Hypericttm. HYPERICACE^. 87 



Europe. June - September. — This pernicious weed is generally believed, in this country, 

 to be the most common cause of " slabbers " in horses and horned cattle ; and Hkewise to cause 

 sores on their skin, especially in animals whose noses and feet are white, and whose skin is 

 thin and tender. Dr. Darlington remarks that the dew which collects on the plant appears to 

 become acrid. He has seen tlie backs of white cows covered with sores wherever the bushy 

 extremity of their tails has been applied, after draggling through the St. John's Wort. Dr. J. 

 M. Bigelow of Ohio states that he has known a high degree of inflammation of the mucous lining 

 of the mouth and fauces produced by eating a few of the fresh leaves. It was formerly in 

 considerable repute for its medicinal virtues, but was chiefly employed as a balsamic for 

 wounds. " The flowers tinge spirits and oils of a fine purple color ; and the dried plant boiled 

 with alum dyes wool of a yellow color. The common people in France and Germany gather 

 it with great ceremony on St. John's day, and hang it in their windows, as a charm against 

 storms, thunder and evil spirits ; mistaking the meaning of some medical writers, who have 

 fancifully given this pla^ the name of Fuga Dcemonum, from a supposition that it was good 

 in maniacal and hypophbndriacal disorders. In Scotland it was formerly carried about as a 

 charm against witchcraft and enchantment." Loudon. 



4. Hypericum corvmbosum, MuM. Corymhed Si. John's Wort. 



Every part of the plant marked with black dots ; stem terete, corymbosely branched above ; 

 leaves oblong, ol^luse, somewhat clasping; cymes many-flowered, corymbed, sepals ovate, 

 rather obtuse ; petals oblong, more than twice the length of the calyx ; styles distinct, about 

 as long as the ovary. — Muhl. in Wild. sp. 3. 7^.1457, and cat. p. 71 ; Pursh, fl. \. p. 377 ; 

 Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 2S0 ; Torr. ^- Gr. fl. N. Am. 1. p. 160. H. maculatum, Michx. fl. 2. 

 p. 80 (not of Walt.). H. micranthum, Chois. in DC.prodr. l.p. 546 ; Hook.fl. Bar. -Am. 1. 

 p. 109. H. punctatum, Torr. compend. p. 220 ; Beck. hot. p. 61 ; Darlingt.fl. Cest.p. 322 ; 

 Reichenb. ic. exot. t. 88. 



Stem 1 J - 2 feet high. Leaves 1-2 inches long, sometimes abruptly narrowed at the 

 base, marked with pellucid as well as blackish dots. Flowers 4-5 lines in diameter. Sepals 

 marked with pellucid dots and lines. Petals pale yellow, strongly marked with black dots 

 and lines. Styles slender : stigmas small, capitate, orange-red. Capsule somewhat 3-lobed. 

 Seeds cylindrical-oblong. 



Woods and fields. July - September. The black dots and lines in this plant (and probably 

 also in most others of the genus) are minute vesicles filled with an intense purple coloring 

 matter, which is partially soluble in water, but readily taken up by alcohol. It seems to be 

 aUied to the coloring principle of logwood, and to be formed from the material of the pellucid 

 vesicles by the action of oxygen. 



