48 HYPERICACE^. (sT. JOHN's-WORT FAMILY.) 



Oedek 18. PARlVASSIACEiE. (Parnassia Family.) 



Character that of the single genus Parnassia, technically most like 

 Hypericaceaj, but the leaves alternate and dotless, — sometimes clearly 

 perigynous, and therefore perhaps nearer SaxifragaceaB, — the 4 sessile 

 stigmas situated directly over the parietal placentce ! 



1. PAKIVASSIA, Toum. Geass op Paknassus. 



Sepals 5, imbricated in the bud, persistent. Petals 5, yeiny, spreading, at 

 length deciduous, imbricated in tlie bud : a cluster of somewhat united gland- 

 tipped sterile filaments at the base of each. Proper stamens 5, alternate witli 

 the petals : filaments persistent : antliers opening inwards. Ovaiy l-coUed, with 

 4 projecting parietal placentSB : stigmas 4, sessile, directly over the placentae. 

 Pod 4-valved, the valves bearing the placentEB on theii' middle. Seeds veiy nu- 

 merous, anatropous, with a thick wing-like seed-coat and no albumen. Embryo 

 straight : cotyledons very short. — Perennial smooth herbs, with the entire leaves 

 chiefly radical, and the solitaiy flowers terminating the long naked stems. 

 Petals white, with greenish or yellowish veins. (Named from Mount Parnassus : 

 called Grass of Parnassus by Dioscorides.) 



1. P. paluslns, L. Petals sessile; rather longer -than the calyx, few- 

 veined; sterile Jilaments 9-15 in each set, slender. — Shore of Lake Superior, 

 Upper Michigan, and northward. Aug. — Stalks 3' -10' high. Leaves all 

 heart-shaped. Plower nearly 1' broad. (Eu.) 



2. P. Caroliniana., Michx. Petafe sessi'fe, more than twice the length 

 of the calyx, many-veined ; sterile Jilaments 3 in each set, stout, distinct almost to 

 the base. — Wet banks. New England to Wisconsin and southward, especially 

 along the mountains. July -Sept. — Leaves tliickish, ovate or rounded, often 

 heai't-shaped, usually but one on the stalk, and that low down and clasping 

 Stalk l°-2° high. Flower I'-lJ' broad. 



3. P. asa.l*Bfolicl) Vent. Petals abruptly contracted into u claw at the 

 base ; sterile Jilaments 3 in each set ; leaves rounded kidney-shaped : otherwise as in 

 No. 2. — High AUeghanies of Virginia, and southward. 



Order 19. HYPERICACE^. (St. John's-woet Family.) 



Herbs or sJirubs, with opjiosite entire dotted leaves and no stipules, regular 

 hypogynous Jlowers, the petals mostly oblique and convolute in the bud, and 

 many or few stamens commonly collected in 3 or more clusters or bundles. 

 Pod 1-celled uith 2-5 parietal placentce, and as many styles, or 3 - 5-celled 

 by the union of the placentce in the centre : dehiscence septicidal. — Sepals 4 

 or 5, imbricated in the bud, herbaceous, persistent. Petals 4 or 5, mostly 

 deciduous. Pod 2-5- (rarely 6 - 7-) lobed, with as many persistent 

 styles, which are at first sometimes united. Seeds very numerous, small, 

 anatropous, with no albumen. Embryo cylindrical : the cotyledons very 



