HYPERICACE^E. 211 



Plate 91. 

 ASCYRUM, L. 



Sepala 4, decussata ; exteriora multo majora. Petala 4, 

 aestivatione convoluta. Glandulae inter stamina indefinita 

 nullae. Capsula unilocularis. — Flores flavi. 



Ascvrhm, Linn. Gen. 903. Nutt. Gen. 2. p. 15. Chois. in DC. I. c. p. 55. 



Torr. & Gray, Fl. N. Am. 1. p. 156, 671. Endl. Gen. 5463. 

 Ascyrdm (& Isophvllum ?), Spach, in Ann. Sci. Nat. I.e. p. 367. 



St. Peter's-wort. 



Calyx foliaceous ; the 4 sepals imbricated two exterior 

 and two interior in aestivation ; the exterior usually rounded 

 or cordate and much larger than the inner pair, spreading 

 in flower, enlarging in fruit and valvate-connivent over the 

 capsule, persistent. Petals 4, hypogynous on the short 

 receptacle, cruciate, widely spreading, obovate or linear- 

 oblong, convolute in aestivation, somewhat oblique, decidu- 

 ous. Stamens indefinite, 9 to 100, hypogynous : filaments 

 distinct or obscurely united at the very base, scarcely clus- 

 tered, capillary, marcescent : anthers round-oval, didymous, 

 introrse, fixed by the middle, somewhat apiculate by the 

 glandular point of the interposed connective ; the cells open- 

 ing longitudinally. Ovary ovoid, one-celled, 2 - 4-lobed, 

 with two to four somewhat introflexed parietal placentas : 

 styles 2 to 4, united below or distinct, short or slender, per- 

 sistent, stigmatose at the apex down the inner side. Ovules 

 very numerous, horizontal, in several rows on the inner face 

 of each placenta, anatropous. 



Capsule ovoid, often somewhat compressed parallel to the 

 larger sepals, one-celled, septicidally 2 - 4-valved, the sutures 

 dividing the lamelliform parietal placentae. Seeds very 

 numerous and small, horizontal on the inner face of each 

 placenta, oval or oblong, straight ; the crustaceous testa 

 minutely reticulated; the inner integument thickish. Al- 



