HYPERICACE^: ill 



more densely collected in terminal cymes ; and the calyx is rather 

 smaller, though bordered with a more conspicuous white edging. 



Sandy and rocky places in the hills and plains, ascending to at 

 least 5000 feet in the Alps. 



Distribution. Europe, especially Central ; Western, and Northern 

 Asia. Rare in England. 



Scleranthus uncinatus Schur. 



Resembles the last, but the flowers are greener. Sepals lanceo- 

 late-acute, very narrowly edged, spreading and much open at 

 maturity, and terminated by a hooked point. 



Sandy places in the mountains. June to August. 



Distribution. Pyrenees, Cevennes, Spain, Austria, Roumania, 

 Balkan Peninsula, Western Asia. 



HYPERICACE.E 



Herbs or shrubs with opposite or whorled leaves, often marked 

 with pellucid dots (glands). Flowers usually in terminal cymes, 

 regular. Sepals 5, rarely 4. Petals 5, rarely 4, usually twisted in 

 the bud. Stamens indefinite. Ovary usually 3-5 celled, with as 

 many styles ; placentation axillary. Seeds exalbuminous. 



Hypericum is the only European genus. 



HYPERICUM L. St. John's Wort. 



Leaves opposite and entire, and no stipules. Flowers regular, 

 usually yellow. Sepals 5. Petals 5, hypogynous. Stamens in- 

 definite, united at the base into 3 or 5 bundles. Capsule more or 

 less divided into 3 or 5 cells by as many placentae projecting from 

 the sides to the axis, and usually opening in 3 or 5 valves. 



An extensive genus, particularly abundant in Southern Europe, 

 Western Asia, and N. America, but represented also in the tropics 

 and in the southern hemisphere. 



Hypericum Coris L. 



Glabrous. Stems 6-12 inches high, slender, erect ; leaves in 

 whorls of 3 or 4, linear, with edges recurved, spotted with glands. 

 Flowers yellow, streaked with red, rather large, in a short corymb. 

 Sepals linear-oblong, obtuse, glandular ciliate. Petals 4-5 times 

 longer than sepals. Capsule ovoid, twice as long as calyx. 



Dry hills and rocks, especially on limestone up to 5000 feet ; 

 local. June to August. 



Distribution. Maritime Alps, Var, Basses-Alpes, Italy, Tyrol, 

 very rare in Switzerland (as near Stans, etc.). 



This beautiful dwarf species is easily cultivated on limestone 

 rocks, and forms a showy mass of gold. 



