ST. JOHN'S-WORT FAMILY 



ASCYRUM. ST. PETER'S-WORT 



Ascyrum stdns. 



Ascyrum, an ancient Greek name of an unknown plant ; 

 without special significance here. 



A small, stout shrub, one to two feet high, in dry or sandy 

 soil, found frequently in pine-barrens. Ranges from Long 

 Island along the coast to Florida and Texas. Stem smooth, 

 erect and straight, two-edged or slightly winged. 



Leaves. Opposite, simple, pinnately veined, oval or oblong, 

 one to one and a half inches long, sessile at base, somewhat 

 clasping, entire, rounded at apex. When full grown, rather 

 thick, pale green, black-dotted. 



Flowers. July, August. Perfect, showy, bright yellow, 

 about an inch across, borne in terminal few-flowered cymes. 

 Pedicels half an inch long, two-bracted below the middle. 



Calyx. Sepals four; in pairs, the outer round-cordate, the 

 inner lanceolate. 



Corolla. Petals four, obovate, very deciduous, convolute in 

 bud. 



Stamens. Many, hypogynous, distinct or slightly clustered. 

 Pistil. Ovary superior, one-celled ; styles three or four. 

 Fruit. Capsule, ovoid, one-celled; seeds many. 



ST. ANDREW'S CROSS 



Ascyrum hypericoides. Ascyrum crux-dndrece. 



Low, much branched and decumbent, six to ten inches high; 

 found in dry sandy soil; stem smooth, flattened and two-edged. 

 Ranges from Massachusetts to Florida, westward to Illinois and 

 Nebraska and southwest to Indian Territory and Texas. 



Leaves. Opposite, simple, pinnately veined, one-half to an 

 inch and a half long, narrow-oblong or obovate, narrowed at 



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