XXX. IJYPERICINE^. 267 



branches opposite or rarely whorled, generally 4-gonous, sometimes compressed or 

 cyliiidric, sometimes" heath-like. LEAVES opposite or rarely whorled, simple, penni- 

 nerved, entire or with glandular teeth, usually sprinkled with pellucid glands sunk 

 in the parenchyma, and edged with vesicular black glands ; stipules 0. FLOWERS 

 , regular, usually terminal, panicled, or in dichotomous cymes. CALYX persistent, 

 of 4-5 more or less connate sepals, 2-seriate, the two outer often the smallest, rarely 

 4 decussate, the 2 outer largest, and covering the inner. PETALS inserted on the 

 receptacle, as many as the sepals, sessile or clawed, equal, more or less inequilateral, 

 veins radiating, aestivation contorted or imbricate; claw naked (Rypericum) , or fur- 

 nished within, above the base, with a fleshy scale, or furrowed. STAMENS inserted 

 on the receptacle, usually indefinite, rarely definite, always more numerous than the 

 petals ; filaments in 3 or 5 bundles, sometimes alternating with glands or hypo- 

 gynous scales, or irregularly polyadelphous, or united into a tube, or quite free ; 

 anthers small, subglobose, introrse, sub-didymous, often tipped by a gland, cells 

 parallel, opening longitudinally. OVARY of 3-5 carpels, or of 1 ( Endodesmia) , 3-5- 

 celled, or with as many imperfect cells; styles as many as carpels, filiform; stigmas 

 terminal, capitate, peltate or clavate ; ovules numerous in each cell, 2-seriate, rarely 

 few or solitary (Endodesmia), usually horizontal, rarely ascending (Haronga, Psoro- 

 spermum), anatropous, very rarely pendulous (Endodesmia). FRUIT a capsule, usually 

 septicidal, rarely loculicidal (Cratoxylon, Elicea), or an indehiscent berry. SEEDS 

 straight, rarely curved, hilum basilar, funicle sub-lateral ; testa crustaceous or mem- 

 branous, dotted or smooth, sometimes loosely cellular, arilliform; chalaza diametrically 

 opposite to the hilum, often dilated into a membranous wing (Eliaea, Cratoxylon). 

 EMBRYO straight or curved, exalbuminous ; cotyledons Hat, half-cylindric or rarely 

 coiled ; radicle cyliiidric, obtuse, usually longer than the cotyledons, and near the 



hilum. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



Hyperieutn. Vismia. Cratoxylon. Ascyrium. Psorospermum. 



Hyperictnets are closely connected with Guttiferee and Camelliacece ; they are allied to Guttiferee in 

 their resinous juice, their tetragonous branches, opposite entire leaves, free or nearly free decussate 

 unequal sepals, contorted or imbricate petals, indefinite stamens, filaments usually in several bundles, or 

 monadelphous, one-pluri-celled ovary, horizontal or ascending anatropous ovules, capsular or fleshy fruit, 

 and exalbuminous embryo ; the diagnosis almost wholly rests on the usually herbaceous stem of Hyperi- 

 cinece, their not jointed branches, less coriaceous leaves, always perfect flowers, and filiform styles. They 

 approach Camelliaceoi in their free sepals, imbricate or contorted petals, indefinite monadelphous or polyadel- 

 phous stamens, and connective often glandular at the top, their capsular or fleshy fruit, and exalbuminous 

 seed ; they are principally separated by their resinous juice, opposite leaves and inflorescence. They have 

 also a close affinitv with Cistineee in their two-seriate sepals, hypogynous contorted petals, numerous 

 stamens, one-celled or sub-pluri celled ovary, capsule with septicidal valves with placentiferous margins ; 

 but in Cistineee the stamens are completely free, the style is simple, the embryo is much curved or 

 coiled, the albumen is floury, the leaves stipulate and usually alternate. Finally, more than one analogy 

 has been noticed between Hypericinete and Myrtaceee (see this family). 



Hyijericinece are spread over the temperate and hot regions of the globe, and especially in the 

 northern hemisphere. They are not rare in tropical America; but become so in equinoctial Asia and 

 Africa. 



Ilypcric.inere, like Guttiferec, possess balsamic resinous juices which flow abundantly from the woody 

 species, and which in the herbaceous ones are secreted by black or pellucid glands sunk in the paren- 



