144 



THE HYPERICUM FAMILY. 



5. Square-stalked Hypericum. Hypericum quadrangulum, 

 Linn. (Fig. 180.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 370.) 



With the general habit of the last 

 two species, this one is readily known by 

 the fonr prominent angles of the stem, 

 and the rather smaller and paler flowers. 

 Leaves ovate, often an inch long, clasp- 

 ing the stem at the base, with numerous 

 pellucid dots, and a few black ones round 

 the margin on the under side. Sepals 

 lanceolate and pointed. Petals and an- 

 thers with very few black dots, or en- 

 tirely without them. 



In moist pastures, by hedges and 

 ditches, in central and southern Europe 

 to the Caucasus, extending northward to 

 southern Sweden. Common in England, 

 Ireland, and southern Scotland, but de- 

 creasing in frequency towards the north. 

 Fl. summer. 



Fig. 180. 



6. Trailing Hypericum. Hypericum humifusum, Linn. 

 {Fig. 181.) 



(Eng, Bot. t. 1226.) 



A low, decumbent, much branched, 

 almost trailing plant, from 2 or 3 to near 

 6 inches long, sometimes forming dense, 

 spreading tufts, with a perennial root- 

 stock, but often flowering the first year, 

 so as to appear annual. Leaves of the 

 common H., but smaller. Flowers few, 

 small, of a pale yellow, in short, loose, 

 leafy cymes. Sepals oblong, often un- 

 equal, entire or with a few glandular 

 teeth, and generally bordered by black 

 dots. Petals scarcely so long, with very 

 few black dots. Stamens few. 



In stony heaths, pastures and bogs, 



fields and waste places, in central and 



Fig. 181. southern Europe to the Caucasus, ex- 



