Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 207 



MARSH ST. JOHNSWORT (Hypericum virgin!- 



cum) is an entirely different species in every respect. 

 The stem is slender, erect and from one to two feet 

 in height, growing from perennial running rootstalks. 

 The comparatively large leaves are light green, with 

 brownish spots and a white bloom on the under side; 

 they are closely set, oppositely on the stem. 



The flowers are in small clusters terminating the 

 branches; the five petals are of a pinkish, flesh-color 

 ar-d surround three groups of golden-yellow stamens. 



This species is prcbably chiefly self-pollenized; the 

 three bundles of stamens are close to the stigmas, 

 and just on a level with them, so that a visiting in- 

 sect could scarcely help depositing pollen on the 

 stigma of its own flcwer. True, some of it may be 

 left on his body to carry to another blossom, so that 

 occasionally cross-fertilization may occur. After the 

 flowering season, the flower contracts so that the an- 

 thers and stigmas are in contact with each other. 

 Later in the summer, after the flowers have entirely 

 withered away, the stem and the leaves take on a 

 rosy tinge that attracts the attention of the observer, 

 even though he be not interested in flowers. 



ST. JOHNSWORT (Hypericum ellipticum) has a 



simple usually 4-angled stem, sometimes with a sin- 

 gle branch near the top. It grows from 8 to 20 inches 

 high and is quite leafy. The leaves are comparatively 

 large, about the same shape as those of Marsh St. 

 Johnswort. At the top are a few five-petalled flowers 

 with bright golden-yellow stamens. The ovoid pods 

 succeeding the flowers are brownish. This species is 

 found in damp places or along streams from Me. to 

 Minn, and south to Pa. 



