48 HYPERICACE^E. (ST. JOHN'S-WORT FAMILY.) 



ORDER 18. PARNASSIACE-3E. (PARNASSIA FAMILY.) 



Character that of the single genus Parnassia, technically most like 

 Hypericaceae, but the leaves alternate and dotless, sometimes clearly 

 perigynous, and therefore perhaps nearer Saxifragacese, the 4 sessile 

 stigmas situated directly over the parietal placentae, 1 



1. PARNASSIA, Tourn. GRASS OP PARNASSUS. 



Sepals 5, imbricated in the bud, persistent. Petals 5, veiny, spreading, at 

 length deciduous, imbricated in the bud : a cluster of somewhat united gland- 

 tipped sterile filaments at the base of each. Proper stamens 5, alternate with 

 the petals : filaments persistent : anthers opening inwards. Ovary 1 -celled, with 

 4 projecting parietal placentae : stigmas 4, sessile, directly over the placentae. 

 Pod 4-valved, the valves bearing the placentae on their middle. Seeds very nu- 

 merous, anatropous, with a thick wing-like seed-coat and no albumen. Embryo 

 straight : cotyledons very short. Perennial smooth herbs, with the entire leaves 

 chiefly radical, and the solitary flowers terminating the long naked stems. 

 Petals white, with greenish or yellowish veins. (Named from Mount Parnassus : 

 called Grass of Parnassus by Dioscorides.) 



1. P. palustris, L. Petals sessile; rather longer than the calyx, few- 

 veined; sterile filaments 9-15 in each set, slender. Shore of Lake Superior, 

 Upper Michigan, and northward. Aug. Stalks 3' -10' high. Leaves all 

 heart-shaped. Flower nearly 1' broad. (Eu.) 



2. P. Carolinian*!, Michx. Petals sessile, more than twice the length 

 of the calyx, many-veined ; sterile filaments 3 in each set, stout, distinct almost to 

 the base. Wet banks, New England to Wisconsin and southward, especially 

 along the mountains. July -Sept. Leaves thickish, ovate or rounded, often 

 heart-shaped, usually but one on the stalk, and that low down and clasping. 

 Stalk 1 - 2 high. Flower 1 ' - 1' broad. 



3. P. asarifolia, Vent. Petals abruptly contracted into a claw at the 

 base ; sterile filaments 3 in each set ; leaves rounded kidney-shaped : otherwise as in 

 No. 2. High Alleghanies of Virginia, and southward. 



ORDER 19. HYPERICACEAE. (Sx. JOHN'S-WORT FAMILY.) 



Herbs or shrubs, with opposite entire dotted leaves and no stipules, regular 

 hypogynous flowers, the petals mostly oblique and convolute in the bud, and 

 many or few stamens commonly collected in 3 or more clusters or bundles. 

 Pod l-celled with 2-5 parietal placenta?, and as many styles, or 3- 5-celled 

 by the union of the placenta? in the centre: dehiscence septicidal. Sepals 4 

 or 5, imbricated in the bud, herbaceous, persistent. Petals 4 or 5, mostly 

 deciduous. Pod 2-5- (rarely 6 - 7-) lobed, with as many persistent 

 styles, which are at first sometimes united. Seeds very numerous, small, 

 anatropous, with no albumen. Embryo cylindrical : the cotyledons very 



