HYPEllICACE.E. 147 



SPECIES rv.— HYPERICUM CALYCINUM. Linn. 

 Plate CCLXVII. 



Stem simple or slightly branched at the base, where it is 

 woody ; branches quadrangular. Leaves sessile or sub-sessile, 

 elliptical or lanceolate-oblong, rounded at the base, and scarcely 

 acute at the apex. Cyme terminal, almost always reduced to a 

 single flower. Sepals unequal, broadly oval, rounded at the apex, 

 persistent. Petals much longer than the sepals. Stamens in 5 

 bundles, as long as the petals. Styles 5, straight, longer than the 

 ovary, but falling short of the stamens. Fruit ovoid-pyramidal, 

 leathery, 5-valved, crowned by the 5 styles which are longer than 

 the capsules. 



On roadsides and in thickets in many places. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Shrub. Autumn.' 



Rootstock extensively creeping, sending up erect stems which 

 are generally simple, 6 inches to 1 foot high, with a few pairs of 

 closely-placed leathery leaves 2 to 4 inches long, covered with 

 rather large pellucid dots. Flowers on peduncles shorter than the 

 longest sepals, 3 to 4 inches across, very bright yellow, without 

 black glands. Outer sepals shorter than the inner ones, and 

 roundish ; the 3 inner ones obovate-oval. Petals slightly oblique, 

 frequently slightly lobed towards the apex. Stamens very 

 numerous, a little shorter than the petals. Capsule 5-celled towards 

 the base, with the placentas contiguous. The very large flowers, 

 with 5 styles, distinguish this from all the other species of the 

 genus. By means of its creeping roots, this plant rapidly extends 

 itself wherever it is introduced, so that it quite assumes a wild 

 appearance, although it is really a native of the Levant. 



Large-Jlowered St. John's Wort, Aaron's Beard. 



This species is often cultivated in gardens. 



Section II.— HTPERINE^. Spach. 



Calyx 5-partite, or more rarely with the sepals distinct to the 

 base. Petals persistent, withering. Stamens persistent, in 3 

 bundles, without scales or glands alternating with the bundles. 

 Filaments adhere only by the very base. Ovary 3-celled, with the 

 placentas in the centre, and united together. Styles 3. Capsules 

 3-valved. 



