ORDER 18. HYPERICACE^E. 247 



persistent ; petals mostly oblique or convolute in the bud ; stamens few or man j, 

 polyadelphous ; anthers versatile ; ovary compound, with styles united or separate, 

 becoming in fruit a 1-celled capsule with parietal placentas, or 3 to 5-celled when 

 the dissepiments reach/ the center. Seeds exalbuminous, minute. (Illustrations in 

 Fig. 69, 278, 389, 390.) 



Genera 15, species 276, very generally distributed, presenting a great variety of habit, and 

 flourishing in all kinds of localities. The juice of many species is considered purgative and 

 febrifugal. 



GENERA. 



Sepals 4. Petals 4, oblique, yellow ASOTEUM 1 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, oblique, yellow HYPERICUM 2 



equilateral, purplish ELODKA 3 



1. ASCtRUM, L. ST. PETER'S WORT. (Etymology uncertain.) Sep- 

 als 4, the two outer usually very large and foliaceous; petals. 4, oblique, 

 convolute ; filaments slightly united at base into several parcels ; styles 

 2 4, mostly distinct ; capsule 1-celled. Plants suffruticous. Lvs. 

 punctate with black dots. Fls. pale yellow 1 or 3 terminating each 

 branch. Pedicels bibracteolate. 



The outer pair of sepals very large, ovate. Styles 1 or 2 '. Nos. 1, 2 



still larger, orbicular. " Styles 3 Nos. 3, 4 



small, like the two inner. Styles 3 No. 5 



1 A. Crux-Andreae L. ST. ANDREW'S CROSS. Branches many, suberect, an- 

 cipital above; Ivs. linear-oblong, obtuse; outer sep. twice longer than the pedicel; 2 

 bracteoles a little below the flower. Sandy woods, N. J. to Ga. and La. Sts. 1 to 

 2f high, with brown, scaly bark below. Lvs. 6 to 12" long, minutely dotted, 

 sessile, smaller ones axillary. Cymes leafy. The persistent, ovate sepals close 

 after flowering. Jn., Jl. 



(3 ANGUSTIFOLIA Nutt. Lvs. oblong-linear, crowded; outer sepals acute, the 

 two bracteoles close to the flower. Car, and Ga. (Feay.) Looks very differ- 

 ent from a, from the smallness of its numerous Ivs., which are 3 to 6" long, 

 1' wide. 



2 A. pximihim MX. Low, trailing at base ; Ivs. oval and obovate, obtuse, sessile 

 outer sepals shorter than the slender pedicel, inner sepal ; bracteoles 0. Ga. and 

 Fla., in dry, piny barrens. Much branched, branches a few inches long. Lvs. 

 about 3" by 2," often smaller. Cymes exserted, the pedicels 6 to 10" long. 

 Pet. rather larger than the sepals. 



3 A. stans MX. St. erect, ancipital ; Ivs. oblong, sessile, and half-clasping, obtuse ; 

 caps, ovate, acute. Swamps in pine barrens, N. J. to Fla. and La. Sts. 1 to 3f 

 high, straight, winged throughout, branched above, usually simple at base and 

 shaggy with loose bark. Lvs. 10 to 15" long, as wide. Outer sepals orbicular, 

 subcordate, 6" diam., inner lance-linear. Petals unequal, ovate, acute, a little 

 longer than the sepals. Sty. 3-, distinct, short. Jn. Aug. 



4 A. amplexicaule ^Ix. St. erect, terete below ; Ivs. broadly ovate, cordate, 

 clasping; caps, oblong. Ga. and Fla. Sts. 1 to 2f high, dichotonously branched 

 above, branches somewhat 2-edged. Lvs. 8 to 12" long, as broad. Outer 

 sepals nearly round, 5'' broad, the petals J longer. 



5 A. microsepaltim Torr. and Gr. Bushy ; st. scarcely edged ; Ivs. oblong and 

 oblong-linear, crowded ; sep. oblong-linear, much shorter than the obovato, un- 

 equal petals ; sty. 3, long, distinct Ga. and Fla. Very different in aspect from 

 the others, with crooked, straggling stems. Lvs. 2 to 4" long, 1" wide (in a 

 variety twice as large). Pedicels longer than the calyx. Fls. 9" broad. Sty. 

 filiform, as long as the oblong capsule. May. 



2. HYPERICUM, L. ST. JOHN'S-WORT. (Derivation unknown.) 

 Sepals 5, connected at base, subequal, leaf-like ; petals 5, oblique ; 

 stamens oo (sometimes few), mostly united at base into 3 5 parcels, 



