HYPERICUM 637 



Native of the eastern United States from Delaware to Florida ; introduced 

 to the Jardin des Plantes at Paris about 1790, but almost lost sight of until 1897, 

 when it was reintroduced to Kew from the Arnold Arboretum. It commences 

 to flower in July and continues until October. Its very narrow leaves and 

 terete stems distinguish it among allied species. (See densiflorum.} 



H. HIRCINUM, Linnceus. 



An almost evergreen, semi-woody plant, usually 2 to 3 ft., sometimes 

 4 ft. high, with erect, two-angled stems much branched towards the top. 

 Leaves with a goat-like odour when crushed, ovate, stalkless, I to 2| ins. 

 long. Cymes terminating the stem and its numerous branches ; on strong 

 shoots borne in the leaf-axils also. Flowers i| ins. across, bright yellow, 

 stamens f to i|- ins. long ; styles three, rather shorter than the stamens. 

 Fruit three-celled, ^ in. long, tapered. 



Native of the middle and southern latitudes of Europe and the Mediter- 

 ranean region ; introduced in 1640. It is now established in some parts 

 of Britain, an escape from gardens. The only Hypericum with which it 

 is likely to be confused is H. elatum, but besides its distinctive odour 

 H. hircinum has longer stamens and styles, smaller leaves, later flowers, 

 and the sepals fall away from the fruit. It flowers from early August to 

 October. A very hardy, handsome plant. 



Var. MINOR. Of dwarf, compact, and more rounded habit, about I ft. high ; 

 leaves smaller. Very dainty. 



H. HOOKERIANUM, Wight. 

 (H. oblongifolium, Hooker ; Bot. Mag., t. 4949.) 



A tall, erect species, 3 to 5 ft. high in cultivation, 8 ft. high in nature ; 

 evergreen or partly deciduous according to the locality and winter ; branchlets 

 not angled. Leaves i to 3 ins. long, \ to i^ ins. wide ; ovate, round or 

 pointed at the tip. Flowers in a terminal "cymose cluster, six or more together ; 

 each flower (of which there is usually but one at a time open) 2 ins. across, 

 rather cup-shaped owing to the concave shape of the full, broad, overlapping 

 petals. Stamens in five bundles. 



Native of the Sikkim Himalaya and the mountains of Assam ; originally 

 introduced to cultivation by Thomas Lobb, from near Mufflong, in Assam. It is 

 the handsomest and most vigorous of the North Indian species, hardier 

 than patulum, but liking a sheltered place. It flowers from early August 

 to October. It is apt to become gaunt in habit, and naked at the base with 

 age, and should be renewed from seed when that condition arrives. From 

 its two allies, patulum and lysimachioides, it differs in the branchlets being 

 terete, especially just beneath the inflorescence. 



H. INODORUM, Willdenow. 



An elegant shrub, 3 to 4 ft. high, evergreen, with long, slender, usually 

 unbranched stems compressed or slightly two-winged towards the top, 

 and luxuriantly leafy (the leaf-pairs from to I in. apart). Leaves oblong 

 or ovate, I to 2 ins. long, dull dark green, rounded at the apex, inodorous. 

 Flowers small compared with the size of the plant, and wanting in beauty ; 

 often solitary at the end of the shoot, but on strong shoots produced in 

 small terminal clusters ; they are f or i in. across, with narrow, fragile 

 petals, linear sepals, and three styles ; stamens longer than petals. 



Native of E. Europe and the Caucasus. In its graceful arching habit 

 and strong vigorous growth this species is attractive, but it is one of 



