ST. JOHIN'S-WORT FAMILY. Hypericaceae. 



ST. JOHN'S-WORT FAMILY. Hypericaceae. 



Not a large family, mostly natives of temperate and 

 warm regions. Ours are herbs, sometimes shrubby, with- 

 out stipules, with opposite, toothless leaves, with clear or 

 black dots; the flowers regular and complete, all the parts 

 borne on the receptacle; the sepals and petals usually five; 

 the stamens usually numerous, sometimes grouped in three 

 to five clusters; the ovary superior; the fruit a capsule. 



There are many kinds of Hypericum, widely distributed; 

 the leaves without leaf -stalks, the flowers yellow, with three 

 to six styles. This is the ancient Greek name. These 

 plants bloom in June, about St. John's Day, and so tradi- 

 tion gives them magic properties, appropriate to the Eve 

 of that day, when fairies and witches are abroad, and they 

 are commonly called St. John's-wort. 



This has very pretty flowers and grows 

 Hypcricum" ^ rom tnree to eighteen inches tall, with 

 concinnum smooth stems, branching and woody at 



Yellow base, and smooth, rather bluish-green 



leaves, usually folded, not clasping at base, 

 California 



usually with only a few dots. The flowers 



are an inch or more across, with bright golden petals, with 

 some black dots, and numerous stamens in three bunches, 

 forming large, fuzzy, golden centers. This grows on dry 

 hills and is supposed to be poisonous to sheep. 



A pretty plant, from six inches to three 

 St. John's-wort feet ^ with & gtiff g often branchi 



Hypericum jor~ 



mdsum var. towards the top, and rather dull green 



Scouleri leaves, blunt, oblong and clasping at base, 



Yellow about an inch long, thin in texture, with 



We^t mCr black dots on the mar 2 ins - The flowers 



are from half an inch to an inch across, 

 with bright yellow petals, dotted with black, and are very 

 pretty, but not so handsome as the last. This grows in moist 

 places, chiefly in the mountains, and is common in Yosemite. 

 Creeping St. ^ n attractive little plant, only a few 



John's-wort inches tall, with many weak, slender, 



Hypericum branching stems, spreading on the ground 



anagalloldes and rootin t th jilts, and y 



Orange 



Summer smooth, light yellowish-green leaves, often 



Northwest tinged with red. It grows in wet places 



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