LV. HYPERICACEiE. 



In this small family, which derives its name from that of St. John's 

 Wort {Hypericum) (fig. 339, 344-353), and which formerly included 

 only the plants attributed to that genus, S". guianense and cayense, 

 with the analogous species forming the genus Vismia^ (fig. 840-343), 

 present the most complete types for our first study. In these the 

 flowers are regular, hermaphrodite, nearly always pentamerous. 

 Their convex receptacle bears at first five sepals, thick, but abruptly 

 thinned at the margin, along which they are quincuncially imbricate 

 (fig. 342). With them alternate five petals, twisted or more rarely 



Vismia guianensis. 



Fig. 341. Flower (J). 



Fig. 340. Bud. 



Fig. 343. Long. sect, of flower. 



imbricate in prefloration, internally covered with hairs, sometimes 

 much developed. The stamens are very numerous, but collected in 

 five oppositipetalous bundles consisting of one large tongue from 

 which are detached at different heights above, slender filaments, each 

 surmounted by a small bilocular anther, introrse at first, but early 



1 Velloz. ex Vandell. Rcem. Scr. 138, t. 7, 

 fig, 4. — Chois. Prodr. Monogr. Hijperic. Geneve 

 (1821), 3, t. 1, 2.— DC. Prodr. i. 542.— Spacii, 

 Consp. Monogr. Syperic. Ann. 8c. Nat. ser. 2, v. 

 349 Suit, a Biiffon, v. 348.— Endl. Gen. n. 



5466.— Payer, Fam. Nat. 79.— B. H. Gen. 166, 

 980, n. 6. — Coapia Pis. Bras. 126. — Scof, 

 Litrod.n. 1256. — JcrossantJnieFRESi.. £ot. Pern. 

 22 ;ex Pl. Am. Sc. Nat. ser. 4, ii. 264). 



