ST. JOHN'S-WORT FAMILY. Hypericaceae. 



ST. JOHN'S-WORT FAMILY. Hypericaceae. 



Not a large family, mostly natives of temperate an< 

 warm regions. Ours are herbs, sometimes shrubby, with 

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

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

 borne on the receptacle; the sepals and petals usually five 

 the stamens usually numerous,' sometimes grouped in thre 

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

 There are many kinds of Hypericum, widely distributee 

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

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

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

 tion gives them magic properties, appropriate to the Ev 

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

 are commonly called St. John's-wort. 



This has very pretty flowers and gnyn 

 from three to eighteen inches tall, wit 

 smooth stems, branching and woody 

 base, and smooth, rather bluish-gree 

 leaves, usually folded, not clasping at bas< 

 usually with only a few dots. The flowei 

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

 some black dots, and numerous stamens in three bunche 

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

 hills and is supposed to be poisonous to sheep. 



A pretty plant, from six inches to thre 



^lt TrkTin'c wnrf 



Hypericum jor- 



mdsum var. towards the top, and rather dull gree 



Scouleri leaves, blunt, oblong and clasping at bas 



Yellow about an inch long, thin in texture, wit 



Wer er black d tS n the mar S ins - The 



are from half an inch to an inch aci 



with bright yellow petals, dotted with black, and are 

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

 places, chiefly in the mountains, and is common in Yosemitl 



St. John's- wort 



Hypericum 

 condnnum 

 Yellow 



California 



Creeping St 

 John's-wort 



Hypericum 

 onagalloldes 



Summer 

 Northwest 



^ n attractive little plant, only a 

 inches tall, with many weak, slendd 

 branching stems, spreading on the grour 

 and roo ti n g at the joints, and sma 

 smooth, light yellowish-green leaves, oftil 

 tinged with red. It grows in wet pi 

 292 



