168 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Hypericum by having four instead of five petals, as pointed out above in 

 the key to the species of the family. 



Elliptic-leaved or Pale Saint John's-wort 



Hypericum ellipticum Hooker 



Plate uob 



Stems herbaceous, slightly four-angled, mainly simple or with a few 

 branches, erect, 6 to 20 inches high from a perennial root. Leaves oval 

 or elliptic, sessile, spreading, thin in texture, three-fourths to if inches 

 long and one-fourth to one-half of an inch wide, blunt at the apex. Flowers 

 pale yellow, few or several in terminal cymes, each flower about one-half 

 of an inch broad, central flower of each cluster opening first, the lateral 

 branches of the cluster developing later; sepals slightly shorter than the 

 petals; styles three, united below; capsules or fruit ovoid-globose, about 

 one-eighth of an inch long and one-celled. Sepals and petals occasionally 

 four instead of five. 



In low grounds, swamps and along streams, Nova Scotia to Manitoba, 

 south to New Jersey, Maryland and Minnesota. Flowering in July and 

 August. Our illustration was made from plants just beginning to flower, 

 before the lateral branches of the cyme were developed. 



Common Saint John's-wort 



Hypericum perforatum Linnaeus 



Plate ijia 



Stems herbaceous, smooth, slender, i to 2 feet high from a perennial 

 root, usually much branched and with several barren shoots at the base. 

 Leaves sessile, linear or oblong, one-half to i inch long, one-tenth to one- 

 third of an inch wide, blunt, black dotted. Flowers three-fourths to i 

 inch broad, bright yellow, several or many in terminal cymes; petals five, 

 black dotted, longer than the lanceolate pointed sepals; stamens numerous, 

 united by their base into three sets; styles three; fruit pod or capsule ovoid, 

 about one-fourth of an inch long or less, three-celled. 



