38 HYPERICACFwE. (ST. JOHN'S- WORT FAMILY.) 



vate, veiny, imbricated in the bud, deciduous. Fertile stamens 5, alter- 

 nating with the petals : anthers introrse. Sterile ones in sets of 3 - 15 

 more or less united filaments, placed opposite each petal. Ovary 1-celled, 

 with 3-4 parietal placentae. Stigmas 3-4, sessile, placed over the pla- 

 centae. Capsule loculicidally 3-4-valved at the apex, many-seeded. 

 Seeds anatropous, winged, without albumen. Embryo straight, cylindrical. 



1. PABNASSIA, Tourn. GRASS OF PARNASSUS. 



Characters same as the order. 



1. P. Caroliniana, Michx. Leaves broadly ovate or cordate-ovate ; cau- 

 line one near the base of the stem, clasping ; petals oval, sessile, with impressed 

 greenish veins ; sterile stamens by threes, distinct almost to the base, 2-3 times 

 as long as the recurved fertile ones. Damp soil, Florida and northward. Oc- 

 tober and November. Stem 12'- 18' high. Flowers 1' wide. 



2. P. asarifolia, Vent. Leaves reniform ; cauline one near the middle 

 of the stem, clasping; petals broadly ovate, short-clawed; sterile stamens by 

 threes. High mountains of North Carolina. August and September. Flow- 

 ers larger than in No. 1. 



ORDER 18. HYPERICACE^E. (ST. JOHN'S-WORT FAMILY.) 



Herbs or shrubs, with opposite entire dotted leaves, without stipules, 

 and regular hypogynous, mostly yellow flowers. Sepals 4-5, imbricated 

 in the bud, persistent. Petals 4-5, convolute or imbricated in the bud, 

 deciduous. Stamens mostly numerous, and often united at the base into 

 3-5 sets : anthers introrse. Styles 2-5, often united, persistent. Cap- 

 sule 1-celled, with strictly parietal placentae, or 2 - 5-celled by the meeting 

 of the placentae at the axis, septicidally 2 - 5-valved. Seeds very numer- 

 ous, minute, anatropous, without albumen. 



Synopsis. 



* Petals convolute in the bud. 



1. ASCYRUM. Sepals and (yellow) petals 4. 



2. HYPERICUM. Sepals and (yellow) petals 5- Stamens without interposed glands. 



* * Petals imbricated in the bud. 



3. ELODEA. Sepals and (rose-colored) petals 6. A gland between the sets of stamens. 



1. ASCYBUM, L. ST. PETER'S-WORT. 



Sepals 4, the two outer ones much larger (except No. 5). Petals 4, convolute 

 in the bud, oblique. Stamens numerous. Styles 2-4, distinct or united. Cap- 

 sules 2-4-valved, 1-celled, with 2-4 parietal placentae. Smooth shrubs with 

 2-edged branches. Flowers mostly solitary, yellow. 



* Pedicels 2-bracted : styles shorter than the ovary. 



1. A. Crux-Andreas, L. Leaves linear-oblong, obtuse, narrowed at the 

 base ; outer sepals oval, rather obtuse, the inner ones minute ; petals oblong, 



