POLYADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. 167 



I. POLYANDRIA. 



227- HYPERICUM. Calyx inferior, in 5 deep divisions; petals 6 ; 

 filaments united at the base, into 3 or 5 parcels ; capsule 

 with many seeds. 



In former times the Hypericum, or St John's-wort, was 

 looked upon as a " plant of power" in the expulsion of de- 

 mons, in hindering witches of their will, and in prognos- 

 ticating the good or bad fortune of young men and mai- 

 dens, as to their obtaining partners for life. In Lower 

 Saxony the young girls, to this day, gather sprigs of it on 

 Midsummer night, and fasten them to the walls of their 

 bed-chamber. If, on the ensuing morning, the sprig re- 

 mains fresh, a suitor maybe expected ; if it drop or wither, 

 the maid is destined to an early grave. This superstition 

 gave origin to the beautiful lines we have selected for our 

 motto, and which are taken from Blackwood's Magazine for 

 January 1821 The H. perfwatum is the species which 

 was used in this country ; and the belief in its virtues is 

 said still to linger amongst the people of North Wales. 



227. HYPEEICUM. 



1. H. quadrangulum, stem herbaceous, with 4 sharp angles ; 

 leaves ovate, with copious pellucid dots ; segments of the calyx 

 lanceolate ; flowers lemon-coloured, panicled ; styles 3. Square 

 St Johri*s-wort. 



Hab. Moist meadows, and banks of rivulets. July. 11 



2. H. perforatum, stem two-edged; leaves elliptical, obtuse, 

 with copious pellucid dots ; segments of the calyx lanceolate ; 

 flowers bright yellow, streaked ; styles 3. Perforated St John's- 

 wort. 



Hab. Thickets and hedges, frequent. July, Aug. If. 



3. H. humifusum, stem compressed, prostrate ; leaves ellipti- 

 cal, smooth ; segments of the calyx ovate, leafy ; flowers some- 

 what cymose, yellow ; styles 3. Trailing St John's-wort. 



