HYPERICACE^. 149 



the relative length of the lateral branches. Sepals narrow, without 

 conspicuous marginal denticulations. Petals much longer than the 

 sepals, oblique. Stamens rather shorter than the petals, in 3 bun- 

 dles, as in the other species under this section. Capsule pyramidal, 

 splitting into 3 valves; each valve with 2 longitudinal raised lines 

 on the back, and oblique oblong pellucid spaces on the margins. 

 Plant light green, more or less dotted with black glands on the 

 under side of the leaves and upper part of the stem. 



H. lineolatum Jord. (Borcau, 1. c., p. 123) is a form (scarcely- 

 deserving the name of a variety) in which the black glands on the 

 petals coalesce into longitudinal bands. I am favom-ed by Mr. J. G. 

 Baker with specimens of this form from Thirsk, Yorkshire, and with 

 these I find that some collected by myself at Musselburgh perfectly 

 agree. 



Doited-leaved SL John's Wort. 



French, ilillepertuis Per/ore. GermaD, DurdJiJchertes Harthen, or Johannis Kraut. 



In Wales it is called " Thousand Holes," and in Kent " Amber." In the days of 

 necromancy and witchcraft the St. John's Wort was a most important plant, for it 

 was considered not only a sovereign remedy against all diseases produced by such 

 means, but a sure preventive of all evil resulting from the machinations of witches, 

 demons, or magicians. Dedicating the plaut to St. John the Baptist, on whose night 

 demons were supposed to be unusually active, people of old summed up all which they 

 believed it to be capable of effecting in the single name of the " grace of God." Old 

 writers tell us that on the Eve of St. John " every man's door was shadowed with 

 green birch, fennel, white lilies, and such like." Lamps were kept burning within all 

 night long, and garlands of the magic plant were carefully preserved throughout the 

 year to secure the general prosperity of the inmates. In the Pyrenees it is said to be 

 still so used ; and in Lightfoot's time the Highlanders carried it tibout with them and 

 stirred milk with it that was difficult to churn from some supposed witchery. The 

 holes in the leaves were said to be made by witches, out of spite to the inconvenient 

 virtues of the plant. The old name, " Fuga Dasmonum," given to the St. John's Wort, 

 arose from its fancied medicinal powers in dispelling melancholy and mental delusions. 

 Buxton says : " Gathered upon a Frid.ay, in the hour of Jupiter, when he comes to his 

 effectual operation, so gathered or borne, or hung about the neck, it mightily helps 

 this affliction, and drives away all phantastical spirits." It was in high repute as a 

 Tidnerary. G«rarde says : " A balsaam prepared from it is a most precious remedie 

 for deep wounds, and those that are thorow the body, for the sinues that are prickt, 

 or any wound made with a venomed weapon." Thereupon he proceeds to give the 

 prescription for the concoction of this precious balsam. Dioscorides says : " The seed 

 drunke for the space of forty dales together cureth the sciatica and all aches that 

 happen in the hips." The plant is certainly astringent and aromatic ; taken internally, 

 it occasionally acts as a purgative, but not powerfully. In country districts it Ls some- 

 times used still as a medicine, and oU in which the shoots or flowering tops have been 

 steeped is sold by herbalists as " oleum hyperiiB." The leaves have been used as a 

 vermifuge. In Wales, the St. John's Wort is still regarded by many with super- 

 stitious reverence, either for its medicinal or anti-demoniac qualities, and the ])ea.«antry 

 call it " y Fendigedi," " the blessed." It was iormerly carried about as au amulet by 



