ORDER 18. HYPERICACEJE. 247 



persistent ; petals mostly oblique or convolute in the bud ; stamens few or many, 

 polyadelphous ; anthers versatile ; ovary compound, with styles united or separate, 

 becoming in fruit a 1-celled capsule with parietal placentad, or 3 to 5-celled when 

 the dissepiments reach the center. Seeds exalbuminous, minute. (Illustrations in 

 Pig. 69, 278, 389, 390.) 



Genera 15, species 276, , very generally distributed, presenting a great variety of habit, an<! 

 flourishing in all kinds of localities. The juice of many species is considered purgative and 

 febrifugal. 



GENERA. 



Sepals 4. Petals 4, oblique, yellow ASCYRUM 1 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, oblique, yellow ." .'." "HYPEHICUM 2 



equilateral, purplish. . ELODEA 3 



1. ASCtRUM, L. ST. PETER'S WORT. (Etymology uncertain.) Sep- 

 als 4, the two outer usually very large and foliaceous ; petals 4, oblique, 

 convolute ; filaments slightly united at base into several parcels ; styles 

 2 4, mostly distinct ; capsule 1 -celled. Plants suftruticous. Lvs. 

 punctate with black dots. Fls. pale yellow 1 or 3 terminating each 

 branch. Pedicels bibracteolate. 



The outer pair of sepals very large, ovate. Styles 1 or 2 Nos. 1, 2 



still larger, orbicular. Styles 3 Nos. 3, 4 



small, like the two inner. Styles 3 No! 5 



1 A. Crux-Andreae L. ST. ANDREW'S CROSS. Branches many, suberect, an- 

 cipital above ; Ivs. linear-oblong, obtuse ; outer sep. twice longer than the pedicel ; 2 

 bracteoles a little below the flower. Sandy woods, N. J. to Ga. and La. Sts. 1 to 

 2f high, with brown, scaly bark below. Lvs. G to 12" long, minutely dotted, 

 sessile, smaller ones axillary. Cymes leafy. The persistent, ovate sepals close 

 after flowering. Jn., Jl. 



(3 ANGUSTIFOLIA Nutt. Lvs. oblong-linear, crowded; outer sepals acute, tho 

 two bracteoles close to the flower. Car. and Ga. (Feay.) Looks very differ- 

 ent from a, from tho smallness of its numerous Ivs., which are 3 to G" long, 

 1' wide. 



2 A. pumilum MX. Low, trailing at "base ; Ivs. oval and obovate, obtuse, sessile ; 

 outer sepals shorter than the slender pedicel, inner sepal ; bracteoles 0. Ga. and 

 Fla., in dry, piny barrens. Much branched, branches a few inches long. Lvs. 

 about 3" by 2," often smaller. Cymes exserted, the pedicels G to 10" long. 

 Pet. rather larger than the sepals. 



3 A. stans MX. St. erect, ancipital ; Ivs. oblong, sessile, and half-clasping, obtuse; 

 caps, ovate, acute. Swamps in pine barrens, N. J. to Fla. and La. Sts. 1 to 3f 

 high, straight, winged throughout, branched above, usually simple at base and 

 shaggy with loose bark. Lvs. 10 to 15" long, -J as wide. Outer sepals orbicular, 

 subcordate, 6" diam., inner lance-linear. Petals unequal, ovate, acute, a little 

 longer than tho sepals. Sty. 3, distinct, short. Jn. Aug. 



4 A. amplexicaule MX. St. erect, tereto below; Ivs. Iroadly ovate, cordate, 

 clasping; caps, oblong. Ga. and Fla. Sts. 1 to 2f high, dichotonously branched 

 above, branches somewhat 2-edged. Lvs. 8 to 12" long, f as broad. Outer 

 sepals nearly round, 5 r broad, the petals ^ longer. 



5 A. microsepalum Torr. and Gr. Bushy; st. scarcely edged; Ivs. oblong and 

 oblong-linear, crowded ; sep. oblong-linear, much shorter than the obovate, un- 

 equal petals; sty. 3, long, distinct. Ga. and Fla, Very different in^ aspect from 

 the others, with crooked, straggling stems. Lvs. 2 to 4" long, 1" wide (in a 

 variety twice as large). Pedicels longer than tho calyx. Fls. 9" broad. Sty. 

 filiform, as long as the oblong capsule. May. 



2. HYP^RICUM, L. ST. JOHN'S-WORT. (Derivation unknown.) 

 Sepals 5, connected at base, subequal, leaf-like; petals 5, oblique; 

 stamens co (sometimes few), mostly united at base into 3 5 parcels, 



