182 XX. HYPERICACE^E. HYPERICUM. 



stems from the same root, and a multitude of tufted branches, all covered with 

 whitish down. Leaves about 1 2" in length, closely appressed to the stem. 

 Flower small, yellow, on pedicels not longer than the leaves. May. 



2. H. ERicolDES. Heath-like Hudsonia. 



Hoary-pubescent ; Ivs. acerose-subulate ; ped. longer than the leaves, fili- 

 form, hairy ; sep. acutish. A very delicate shrub, found in pine barrens, Mass, 

 to Va. Stem f high, erect, with numerous short, compound, procumbent 

 branches. Leaves needle-like, scattered, 2 4" long. Flowers yellow, shorter 

 than the peduncles. Capsule oblong, pubescent. May. 



ORDER XX. HYPERICACEJE. ST. JOHN'S-WORTS. 



Herbs, shrubs or trees, with a resinous juice, and often with angular branches. 



Lvs. opposite, entire, mostly punctate with pellucid dots, and black glands. Slip. 0. 



Fls. perfect, mostly yellow, with cymose inflorescence. 



Cal. Sepals 4 5, distinct or cohering, persistent, unequal, dotted. 



Cor. Petals 45, hypogynous, aestivation twisted, veins oblique, dotted. 



Sta. hypogynous, indefinite, in 3 or more parcels. Anthers versatile. 



Ova. single, superior. Style slender. Stigma simple. 



Fr. a capsule or berry, many-celled. Seeds indefinite, minute. 



Genera 13, species 276, very generally distributed, presenting a very great variety in habit, and flourish- 

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



Conspectus of the Genera. 



$ o Hypericwm. 2. 



$5. Hypogynous glands (3 Elodea. 3. 



Petals and sepals ( 4. Hypogynous glands Ascyrum. 1. 



1. ASCYRUM. 



Gr. a, privative, axvpos, roughness; i. e., a smooth plant. 



Sepals 4, the 2 outer usually larger ; petals 4 ; filaments slightly 

 united at base into several parcels ; styles 2 4, mostly distinct ; cap- 

 sule 1 -celled. Plants suffruticose. Lvs. punctate with black dots, 

 Fls. yellow, 1 3, terminal on each branch. Pedicels bibracteolate. 



1. A. CRUX- ANDREW. (A. multicaule, Michx.} St. Peters-wort. 



St. much branched at base ; branches suberect, ancipital above ; Ivs. obo- 

 vate or linear-oblong, obtuse ; inner sep. minute, roundish ; pet. linear-oblong ; 

 sty. 1 2. Sandy woods, N. J. to La. Stem about l&high, thickly clothed 

 with leaves which are If' long, of very variable width. Flowers pale-yel- 

 low, on very short pedicels, with 2 bracteoles close to the calyx. Petals ex- 

 ceeding the sepals and stamens. July. 



2. A. STANS. Michx. (A. hypericoides. Linn.) 



St. straight, erect, ancipital or winged, branched above ; Ivs. oblong, ob- 

 tuse, sessile ; outer sep. cordate, orbicular, longer than the 2 lanceolate, interior 

 ones; sty. 3. Swamps in pine barrens, N. J. to La. Stem 1 2f high. Leaves 

 1 1J' long, J as wide, somewhat glaucous. Flowers usually 3 ^together, much 

 larger than in the preceding. Yellow. Jl. Aug. 



2. HYPERlCUM. 



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

 Stamens 00 (sometimes few) united at base into 3 5 parcels, with 

 no glands between them ; styles 3 5, distinct or united at base, per- 

 sistent. Herbaceous or shrubby plants. Lvs. punctate, with pellucid 

 dots, opposite, entire. Fls. solitary, or in cymose panicles, yellow. 



* Stamens 20 100, polyadelphous. Herbs. 



1. H. PYRAMIDATUM. Ait. (H. ascyroides. Willd.) Giant Hypcricum. 

 St. branching, somewhat quadrangular; Ivs. sessile, oblong-ovate, acute, 

 smooth; sty. as long as the stamens. 7J. A large flowering species, found on 

 dry hills, also on river banks, Ohio and Penn. to Car. Stem 3 5f high, scarce- 

 ly angular, smooth, rigid, herbaceous. Branches corymbose and erect, or late- 



