436 



HYPERICACEAE. 

 3. SAROTHRA L. Sp. PI. 272. 1753. 



[Voi,. II. 



A low annual much-branched herb, the opposite leaves reduced to subulate scales, the 

 mostly opposite branches erect-ascending, the very small yellow flowers alternate, very 

 short-pedicelled or sessile along them in the axils of still smaller scales. Sepals 5, equal. 

 Petals 5. Stamens 5-10. Styles 3, separate. Capsule elongated-conic, i -celled, much longer 

 than the sepals; seeds minutely striate and pitted. [Greek, a broom.] 



A monotypic genus of eastern North America. 



i. Sarothra gentianoides L. Orange-grass. 

 Pine-weed. (Fig. 2463.) 



Sarolhra gentianoides L. Sp. PI. 272. 1753. 

 Hypericum nudicaule Walt. Fl. Car. 190. 1788. 

 Hypericum Sarothra Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 3: 79. 1803. 



Annual, erect, fastigiately branched, 4 / -2O / high. 

 Branches mainly opposite, filiform, erect, wiry; leaves 

 minute, subulate, about i" long, appressed; flowers 

 nearly sessile, i"-iX" long, open in sunlight; sepals 

 linear, about equalling the petals and much shorter than 

 the conic-cylindric acute purple pod; seeds very small. 



In sandy soil, Maine to Florida, west to Minnesota, Missouri 

 and Texas. June-Oct. Called also Ground Pine and Nit-weed. 



I ' 



4. TRIADENUM Raf. Med. Rep. (II.) 5: 352. 1808. 

 [ELODEA Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. 360. 1814. Not Michx. 1803, nor Elodes Adans. 1763.] 



Perennial marsh herbs, with opposite entire oblong oval or ovate leaves, and pink or 

 greenish purple flowers in terminal cymes, or also axillary. Calyx of 5 equal persistent 

 sepals. Petals 5, not contorted. Stamens 9, or sometimes more, in 3 sets, the sets alternat- 

 ing with 3 large hypogynous glands. Ovary 3-celled; styles 3. Capsule oblong-conic, much 

 longer than the sepals. [Greek, three glands.] 



Two species, natives of eastern North America. 



Leaves sessile ; flower-clusters peduncled. 



Leaves short-petioled; Sower-clusters nearly sessile. 



1. T. Virginicum. 



2. T. petiolatum. 



i. Triadenum Virginicum (L,.) Raf. 

 Marsh St. John's-wort. (Fig. 2464.) 



Hypericum Virginicum L. Sp. PI. Ed. 2, 1104. 1763. 

 Jlypericum campanulalum Walt. Fl. Car. 191. 1788. 

 Elodea campanula/a Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. 379. 1814. 

 Elodea Virginica Nutt. Gen. 3: 17. 1818. 

 Triadenum Virginicum Raf. Fl. Tell. 3: 79. 1836. 



Perennial, erect or ascending, nearly simple, i- 

 i# high. Leaves sessile or cordate-clasping, ovate 

 or oblong, i / -2>^ / long, y-iz" wide, very obtuse, 

 sometimes emarginate, glaucous beneath, black- 

 dotted; flowers 6 // -8 // broad, in axillary and ter- 

 minal peduncled leafy clusters; sepals ovate or lan- 

 ceolate, acute, shorter than the straight petals; sta- 

 mens 9 or more, united in 3 sets; styles 3, distinct; 

 capsule oblong, 4 / -5 // long, acute, red-purple. 



In swamps, Labrador and Nova Scotia to Florida, west 

 to Manitoba, Nebraska and Louisiana. Also in north- 

 eastern Asia. Ascends to 2600 ft. in the Catskills. 

 July-Sept. 



