116 BRITISH FLOWKRING PLANTS crkv. 



stamens, which are united in three or five bundles. 

 The flowers secrete no honey, but are much visited 

 for the sake of the pollen. Hence, perhaps, the ad- 

 vantage of producing so many stamens. They also 

 add considerably to the conspicuousness and beauty of 

 the flowers. 



H. calycinum and H. Androssemum (Tutsan) are 

 undershrubs, with large oval leaves, often grown in 

 shrubberies. H. Androscemum is probably native ; 

 H. calycinum has become naturalised in some of our 

 southern counties. 



H. perforatum (Common Hypericum). — The stem is 

 generally round, but sometimes slightly angular. The 

 leaves have numerous pellucid dots, looking like per- 

 forations, and giving its name to the plant. There are 

 generally some black dots on the under side of the leaves, 

 and on the petals, but not on the pointed sepals. The 

 stamens are numerous and of difierent lengths ; the 

 shortest ones ripen first, then those of intermediate 

 lengths, and the longest last. These only are as long 

 as the pistil, and fertilise it if it has not already 

 received pollen from another flower. The capsule is 

 erect, and opens at the apex, so that the seeds are 

 scattered by the wind. The seeds are oblong, narrowed 

 at each end. They are dark brown, and strongly reticu- 

 lated in polygonal areolae. The flowers are largely visited 

 by pollen-loving insects. H. Mliller mentions over forty 

 species, and some others have since been added to the list 

 by Loew, MacLeod, Willis, and others. I do not find 

 any suggestion as to the use of the pellucid dots. They 

 contain an aromatic oily liquid, and may perhaps serve 

 to prevent the plant from being eaten by browsing 

 quadrupeds or by insects. 



H. dubium. — The stem is sometimes round, but 

 sometimes slightly quadrangular ; it is perhaps in a state 

 of transition. The leaves are nearly destitute of pellucid 

 dots, and the petals and stamens have fewer black dots. 

 The sepals are blunt. 



H. quadrangulum. — In this species the stem is dis- 



