38 IITPERICACBiB. (ST. JOHX'S-WORT FAMILY.) 



vate, veiny, imbricated in the bud, deciduous. Fertile stamens 5, alter- 

 nating with the petals : anthers introrse. Sterile ones in sets of 3 - 15 

 more or less united filaments, placed opposite each petal. Ovary 1 -celled, 

 with 3-4 parietal placentae. Stigmas 3-4, sessile, placed over the pla- 

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

 Seeds anatropous, winged, without albumen. Embryo straight, cylindrical. 



1. PARNASSIA, Tourn. Grass of Parnassus. 



Characters same as the order. 



1. P. Carolixiiana, Michx. Leaves broadly ovate or cordate-ovate ; can- 

 line one near the base of the stem, clasping ; petals oval, sessile, with impressed 

 greenish veins ; sterile stamens by threes, distinct almost to the base, 2-3 times 

 as long as the recurved fertile ones. — Damp soil, Florida and northward. Oc- 

 tober and November. — Stem 12'- 18' high. Flowers 1' wide. 



2. P. asarifolia, Vent. Leaves rcniform ; cauline one near the middle 

 of the stem, clasping; petals broadly ovate, short-clawed; sterile stamens by 

 threes. — High mountains of North Carolina. August and September. — Flow-, 

 crs larger than in No. 1. 



Order 18. IIYPERICACEiE. (St. John's-wort Family.) 



Herbs or shrubs, with opposite entire dotted leaves, without stipules, 

 and regular hypogynous, mostly yellow flowers. — Sepals 4-5, imbricated 

 in the bud, persistent. Petals 4-5, convolute or imbricated in the bud, 

 deciduous. Stamens mostly numerous, and often united at the base Into 

 3-5 sets: anthers introrse. Styles 2-5, often united, persistent. Cap- 

 Kile 1-celled, with strictly parietal placentse, or 2-5-celled by the meeting 

 of the placentse at the axis, septicidally 2-5-valved. Seeds very numer- 

 ous, minute, anatropous, without albumen. 



Synopsis. 



* Petals convolute in the bud. 



1. ASCYRUM. Sepals and (yellow) petals 4. 



2. HYPERICUM. Sepals and (yellow) petals 5. Stamens without interposed glands. 



* * Petals imbricated in the bud. 



3. ELODEA. Sepals and (rose-colored) petals 5- A gland between the sets of stamens. 



1. ASCYRUM, L. St. Feter's-wort. 



Sepals 4, the two outer ones much larger (except No. 5). Fctals 4, convolute 

 in the hud, oblique. Stamens numerous. Styles 2-4, distinct or united. Cap- 

 sules 2-4-valved. 1-celled, with 2-4 parietal placenta. — Smooth shrubs with 

 2-edgcd branches. Flowers mostly solitary, yellow. 



* Pedicels 2-bracted : styles shorter than the ovary. 



I. A. Crux-Andreae, L. Leaves linear-oblong, obtuse, narrowed at the 

 base; outer sepals oval, rather obtuse, the inner ones minute ; petals oblong, 



