174 ThesBR 1. Lil SH HEARSB AME. 
This fingle inftance may ferve as a proof that the ftyles are not at all fit to be received into the 
number of parts from which a claffical divifion, or even a generical character, can be eftablihed : 
if we thould allow them but this laft and leaft ufe, we muft here of neceffity feparate, under different 
names, and in diftinét genera, plants moft evidently related to one another, as {pecies of the fame 
enus. e Priest 
ei obferved thefe, or other, as light and uncertain diftinctions, fo far as to feparate 
Some have id ; : ; 
the Saint Fobn’s worts fin this manner : hence have arifen the diftinét generical names in Latin of 
‘emum, and fome others ; and in Englifh, thofe of tu:/an, Saint Peter’s wort, 
hypericum, afcyrum, androfe 
a eae pores all frivolous and idle diftinétions, and all tending to create confufion in the 
{eience ; becaufe the plants are all truly and properly allied. 
Linnxus, who is in general fond enough of eftablifhing new genera, has judged very rightly in 
this refpect: he has named all thefe fubordinate and accidental variations in the ftyles of the various 
kinds of Saint Fobn’s wort as variations only and has boldly and juftly kept all of them under 
one name, and in one genus. At the fame time, he has feparated, under the name of a/eyrum, 
and referred to a diftinét genus, fome plants, which, though they have the general afpect of Saint 
Fobn’s worl, have only four petals in the flower. 
While we give this author the deferved praife, for his arrangement of the Saint Fohn’s worts, we 
cannot but cenfure the place he has affigned them in his work: he has feparated them from the ciftus, 
and other plants before defcribed, by five intermediate claffes; and, becaufe of this accident of the 
ftamina, or threads, joining in feveral little clufters, has placed them in the artificial clafs we have 
named. This may well be called an artificial clafs, becaufe nothing in nature countenances it; and 
it is moft evident, by the divifion of thefe plants from the others, that it violates her moft obvious 
laws. They agree with the others in the having a flower compofed of five petals, and their feeds 
contained in a fingle capfule : thefe are obvious reafons for joining them ; and this particular diftribu- 
tion of the ftamina is but a very poor one for feparating them, and fending the ftudent to look for 
plants which nature directs him to underftand as allied to one another, in the different parts of 
a work, 
DebvV 1S ON oak: 
1. Common Saint John’s wort. 
Hypericum vulgare. 
The ‘root is long, flender, woody, divided, 
and f{preading. 
The ftalk is firm, upright, of a pale green 
colour, edged, and a foot and half high: it is 
fimple toward the bottom, but divides into many 
branches near the top. 
The leaves are oblong, broad, and of a deep 
green: they ftand in pairs at fmall diftances, and 
are undivided on the edges: when held up againft 
the light they appear full of little holes. 
The flowers are large, full of threads, and of 
a beautiful gold yellow. 
The feed-veffel is roundifh, and contains nu- 
merous {mall feeds. 
The ftyles from the rudiment of the capfule 
are three in this plant; and the capfule is divided 
into three cells. 
The yellow threads in this flower, when 
moiftened and bruifed upon the hand, ftain it 
red. 
It is common by way-fides, and flowers in 
June. 
C. Bauhine calls it Hypericum vulgare; and mot 
others have followed him. 
The common Saint Fobn’s wort is celebrated for 
many virtues, and is not neglected in regular 
practice. A decoétion of it is good to wath 
ulcers; and an oil, made by infufing the flowers 
in olive oil, is much recommended againft pain, 
and as a balfam: the flowers give their latent red 
colour very beautifully to the oil in this prepa. | 
ration. 
An infufion of the frefh tops of Saint Fobn’s { 
wort is good in the jaundice : it operates by urine, 
Bi RSD DelSsHe Sepak: Clb. S: 
The exprefled juice of the frefh tops is good 
againft {pitting of blood. 
The powder of the tops carefully dried is re- 
commended alfo againft worms, and in the gout, 
and againft tertian and quartan agues. 
A tinéture of the flowers, made ftrong in 
white-wine, is recommended greatly by fome 
againft melancholy: but of thefe qualities we 
{peak with lefs certainty, though they deferve a 
fair trial. 
2. Small heart-leaved Saint John’s wort. 
Hypericum folium cordatis. — 
The root is flender, brown, and furnifhed 
with a few fibres. 
The ftalk is round, fmooth, . upright, and 
frequently redith: it has fcarce any branches, and 
is a foot or more in height. 
The leaves ftand in pairs, but with great {paces 
between one pair and another : they are {mall, 
broad, fhort, and have no footftalks, but fur- 
round the ftalk at the bafe: they are of a heart- 
fafhioned fhape, but not much dented at the 
broad part, and are of a deep green, and firm 
fubftance. 
The flowers are large, and of a bright yellow. 
The feed-veffels are large, and the feeds are 
brownith. 
The ftyles in the flowers of this fpecies are 
only three; and the feed-veftel is, in the fame 
anne, divided into three cells. 
_4tis common in dry paftures and b -fides ; 
and flowers in July. Rie 
Ityis a very pretty plant. Tragus has called 
‘it thence Hypericum pulchrum; and moft have 
copied him. J. Bauhine calls it Eypericum minus 
erecium. y 
3. Small 
