POLYPETALOUS EXOGENOUS PLANTS. 1G7 



radical leaves, entire, on long petioles, and large solitary 

 flower's terminating tlie scape-like 1-leaved stem. Sepals 

 5, persistent. Petals 5, ovate or obovate, veiny imbri- 

 cated in the bud, deciduous. Fertile stamens 5, alternat- 

 ing with the petals. Ovary 1-celled, with 3-4 parietal 

 placentse. Stigmas 3-4, sessile, placed over the placentae. 

 Capsule loculicidally 3-4-valved at the apex, many-seeded. 

 Seeds anatropous winged, without albumen. Embryo 

 straight, cylindrical. 



19. ST. JOHN'S-WOKT FAMILY. Order, Hyperi- 



CACE^. 



Herhs or low shrubs with entire opposite, exstipulate, 

 dotted leaves, as if punctured with transparent or dark- 

 colored dots, one or both. Floivers hypogynous, perfect, 

 regular, 4 or 5 persistent sepals ; as many petals. Stamens 

 few or many, in 3 or 5 clusters, and therefore said to be 

 poly del phous, borne on the receptacle. Petals mostly 

 oblique or convoluted in bud. Styles 2-5, commonly sep- 

 arate, or sometimes all united into one. Ovary a one- 

 celled fruit with pai:ietal placenta, or as many cells when 

 the dissepiments reach the center. 



GENERA. 



AscYKUM. Sepah 4. Petcds 4, convolute in the hud, yellow. 

 Hypericum. Sepals 5. Petals 5, convolute in the bud, yellow. 

 Elodea. Sepals 5. Petals 5, imbricated in the bud, rose-colored. 



ASCYRUM, L. St. Peter's-wort. 



Sepals 4, the two outer ones much larger. Petals 4, 

 convolute in the bud, oblique. Stamens numerous. Styles 

 2-4, distinct or united. Capsules 2-4-valved, 1-celled, 

 with 2-4 parietal placentae. Smooth shrubs with 2-edged 

 branches, Flowers mostly solitary, yellow. 



