152 



Flowers yellow, in crowded heads. Stems hairy. This is so 

 valuable a plant in agriculture, that once none were thought to 

 be equal to it in fattening cattle, and it was therefore called 

 Nonsuch. 



O. S. Yellow Sickle Medick, with yellow flowers and pods shaped 

 like a sickle, Purple Medick, often grown and known by the name of 

 Lucerne, Spotted Medick, Flat- toothed Medick, Little-toothed Medick, 

 and Reticulated Medick, some of them very rare. 



CLASS 18. POLYANDRIA. 



(Containing Plants with their Stamens in mure than 

 one bundle.) 



A small class, containing only one family or genus of native 

 plants, and this is the St. John's Wort, some species of which 

 are well-known ornaments in the gardens, and others common 

 in the fields and woods. They are beautiful plants, all of them 

 bearing yellow flowers, of five petals. Calyces of five leaves, 

 and capsules of many seeds. 



ST." JOHN'S WORT. HYPERICUM. 

 PERFORATED ST. JOHN'S WORT. Hypericum perforation. 



Plate 12, fig. 1. 

 Leaves covered with shining dots or small holes. 



Abundant every where in hedges, woods, and thickets 

 rearing up its heads, rich with golden flowers, to the height of 

 a foot or two. It may be known at once from the next by 

 being larger, and having its leaves nearly pierced through with 

 a number of small holes, so that, when held up to the light, 

 they may be almost seen through. The calyx, the corolla, 

 and sometimes the leaves, have black dots around their edges 

 and tips. Because of its pierced leaves, and the property it 

 was supposed to have in curing wounds, it is said by the poets 

 to be dedicated to War. 



" Hypericum was there, the herb of war, 

 Pierced through with wounds, and marked with many a scar." 



