238 PLANTS GROWING IN SANDY SOIL. 



ST. ANDREW'S CR0S5. {Plate CXXII) 

 Ascy7'iim hypericoldes. 



/7^w,?rj- ; clustered at the ends of spreading flower-stalks. Calyx: of four 

 unequal sepals. Corolla: of four oblong petals. Stamens: numerous. Ptstil : 

 one; styles, two. Leaves: opposite; narrow; entire; sessile; smooth and 

 spotted with a darker colour. Stem: much branched. 



" This low, leafy member of the St. John's-wort family is very 

 pretty and may be found in light, sandy soil, or pine barrens 

 especially those of New Jersey. The petals, which are not longer 

 than the sepals, spread out in the shape of St. Andrew's cross. 



SHRUBBY ST. JOHN'S=WORT. {Plate CXXIII.) 



Hypericum prolificit77i. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



St. John's-wort. Vellozv. Scentless. New Jersey to Georgia. July, August. 



Flowers : clustered at the ends of the branches. Calyx : of five sepals. 

 Corolla: of five spreading pointed petals, tinged with scarlet in the centre. 

 .S/i^w^wj- ." indefinite in number ; protruding. Pistil: one; styles, three. Pod: 

 red ; three-celled. Leaves : numerous ; opposite ; oblong. Ste/n : branched ; 

 reddish. 



The shrubby St. John's-wort is rather the coxcomb of the 

 family and has decidedly the air of being very much pleased 

 with itself. Its prolific supply of protruding stamens gives it a 

 light fluffy look which enlivens any bunch of flowers and adds a 

 touch of beauty to the sandy, barren soil where it grows. 

 Thoreau mentions that at the time of the longest days in the 

 year the St. John's-wort begins to bloom. 



PRICKLY-PEAR. INDIAN FIG. 



Opuntia humt'fiisa. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Cactus. Yellow. Scentless. Northeastern states. Summer. 



Flowers : large ; solitary ; sessile ; axillary from the side of the stem joints. 

 Calyx: of numerous sepals. Corolla: of eight to twelve petals arranged in 

 ranks. Stamens : wnxix^xon?,. Pistil: one; stigmas, numerous. Fruit: pear- 

 shaped; edible. Stem: successively jointed ; fleshy, spiny, and provided with 

 tufts of stiff, reddish-brown bristles. 



