HYPERICACE^E. 157 



H. perforatum, Linn. — Stem ancipital, erect, branched ; leaves ovate-elliptical, obtuse, 

 with pellucid dots ; petals longer than the acute-lanceolate sepals. 



Linn., Sp. PI. 1105; Willdenovv, Sp., iii. 1453; Pursh, FL, ii. 377; 

 Torrey and Gray, Fl., i. 160; Eng. Bot., t. 295; Lindley, Fl. Med. 117. 



Common Name. — St. John's Wort. 



Foreign Names. — Millepertuis, Ft. ; Caccia diavoli, Iperico, It. ; St. Jo- 

 hannes Kraut, Ger. 



Description. — Roots perennial, fusiform, tortuous. Stem ancipital, about eighteen 

 inches in height, much branched, curved below, but erect above. The leaves are closely 

 sessile, of an ovate-elliptical shape, of a light green colour, and conspicuously marked 

 with numerous pellucid dots. The flowers are of a bright yellow colour, arranged in a 

 terminal corymb. The calyx is persistent, and is composed of five acute-lanceolate 

 sepals, united at base. The corolla is of 5 ovate, obtuse, sessile petals, much longer than 

 the sepals, of a yellow colour, with numerous dark glandular spots at the edges. The 

 stamens are numerous and divided into three sets. The anthers are small. The styles 

 are 3, with very small stigmas. The fruit is a somewhat globose capsule, with three 

 cells, and opening naturally by three valves. Seeds numerous, very small. 



This common plant is a native of Europe, but has been introduced into the 

 United States, and, unfortunately for the farmer, has become very abundant, 

 as it is very difficult to eradicate, and is extremely exhausting to the ground. 

 It is also said to exercise an injurious effect on cattle, by inflaming the skin 

 wherever the hair is white. Although this belief is very general, it is by no 

 means proved that the injury is owing to the St. John's Wort, and we are 

 much inclined to believe that it is attributable to a species of Euphorbia, 

 which is in almost all cases found growing where the Hypericum abounds, 

 the acrid juice of the former plant being fully capable of causing inflamma- 

 tion, whilst the oil furnished by the glands of the latter, and which is the 

 active principle of the plant, is celebrated for its vulnerary powers. 



The St. John's Wort was held in high estimation by the earlier writers on 

 the Materia Medica, and numerous virtues attributed to it, particularly as a 

 febrifuge and anthelmintic; and it still enjoys much reputation in some parts 

 of Europe, in the treatment of many diseases, but is seldom or never em- 

 ployed by the regular practitioner. In this country, it is only used to make 

 an oil or ointment, which is said to be an excellent application in ulcers, the 

 reduction of tumours, &c. ; and, from some trials with it, we are disposed to 

 think favourably of it. It is made by infusing the flowers in oil or lard until 

 these substances are tinged of a red colour. The first of these preparations, 

 although perfectly fluid at first, has a tendency to solidify, when kept for any 

 length of time. Whatever may be the real value of this plant as a medicinal 

 agent, it deserves attention, and that a fair trial should be made of it ; the 

 testimonies in its favour are so strong, that it can scarcely be as inert as is 

 now supposed ; and, as is observed by Cullen (Mat. Med. 173), " we should 

 not be so audacious as to neglect it, for by the sensible qualities it appears 

 active;" and further adds, " that there are many well-vouched testimonies of 

 its virtues, particularly of its diuretic powers." 



No complete analysis has been made of this plant ; but from the experi- 

 ments of Mr. Blair (Am. Jour. Pharm., ii. 23), its active constituents appear 

 to be an acrid, resinous substance, pervading the whole plant, a red oil, fur- 

 nished by the glands on the petals, and some tannin. Hypericum is not 

 recognised as officinal by the United States Pharmacopoeia, but is so by 

 many of the European authorities, as a constituent of a variety of syrups, 

 tinctures, &c. 



There are many other species, which have obtained some celebrity ; thus 

 the H, lanceolatum, a native of the Isle of France, is there used as a specific 



