HARPER'S GUIDE TO WILD FLOWERS 



H. punctatum. — Petals, pale yellow, marked with dots or lines 

 of a darker shade. Flowers, crowded in terminal cymes. Leaves, 

 oblong or lance-shaped, their bases almost clasping, conspicu- 

 ously dotted with both black and clear dots. Stem, round. A 

 perennial arising from a woody base. July to September. 



We are likely to become confused with the many slightly 

 varying species of St. John's-worts. Any one of them was 

 in the eyes of maidens of an older time, endowed with a sort 

 of magical power. If cultivated successfully in a garden, 

 it would secure a husband within a year. Gathered and hung 

 on the doors on the eve of St. John, it was supposed to be a 

 protection against evil spirits. Common from Maine to 

 Florida and westward, in moist soil. 



Great St. John's-wort 



H. Ascyron. — Color, yellow. Sepals, petals, styles, 5. Many 

 stamens and a red pod. Flowers, in cymose clusters, 2 inches 

 across. Leaves, opposite, dotted, large, 3 to 5 inches long, clasp- 

 ing or sessile. Height, 2 to 5 feet. July. 



This is the tallest of the genus, bearing large, showy blos- 

 soms. The dots in the leaves can be easily seen by holding 

 them to the light. River-banks in all the Eastern States 

 and far into the interior. 



Weak or Dwarf St. John's-wort 



H. mutilum. — Flowers, small, few, yellow, on leafy branches. 

 Leaves, opposite, spreading, 5 -nerved, meeting and clasping on 

 the stem below the weak branches from which the cymes of 

 blossoms arise. 6 to 20 inches high. July and August. 



Common in low, moist ground from Maine to Florida and 

 Texas. Found 3,000 feet high in mountains of Virginia. 

 (See illustration, p. 189.) 



Canada St. John's-wort 



H. canadense. — Color, deep yellow. Sepals and petals, as in 

 others of the genus. Stamens, usually about 12, in 3 groups; 

 sometimes 5 in a single row. Flowers, in leafless, cymose clusters, 

 less than £ inch across. Pods, reddish, longer than the calyx, 

 pointed at top, 1 -celled. Leaves, long, narrow, pointed, 3 -nerved 

 at base, dotted. Stems, square, straight, upright, 6 to 15 inches 

 high. June to October. 



Wet or dry soil over all the Eastern and Middle States 

 and southward. (See illustration, p. 191.) 



