CL. XVIII.] 25. HYPERICUM MONTANUM. 413 



it is only found near the fort at Copenhagen. In Siberia^ 

 again, it grows along the upper Jenisei as far Krasnojarsk> 



Uses. 



The tubers are edible. In Siberia they are much relished 

 by the Tartars, under the name Tschina. The common 

 people in Germany also use them. They contain three times- 

 more starch than potatoes. 



CLASS XVIII. 



Hypericum montanum, h. 



Berg- Johanniskraut, Grossblattriges Hartheu, — French, Mil- 

 lepertuls de montagne. — Engl. Mountain St John^s-wort. 



This graceful plant grows single, in woods and on calca- 

 reous soils. The stem, which is an ell long, round, simple, 

 and smooth^ springs from a brown, woody, fibrou sroot, and is 

 about the thickness of a pack-thread. The stem-leaves are 

 oblong, smooth, and stalkless : they stand above and opposite 

 each other, at intervals, which are an inch and a half long, 

 and they partially embrace the stem. The margin of the 

 leaves is adorned with black points, and its lower surface is 

 reddish. The leaves are rather tapering at the point, yet not 

 pointed. On their lower surface we perceive some ribs pro- 

 ceeding from the base. The length of the leaves is an inch, 

 the breadth half an inch. The leaves, when rubbed, before 

 the flowering, give out a reddish juice. On the upper part 

 of the stem they are less frequent, and much smaller. The 

 flowers stand on the top of the stem in crowded panicles. Un- 

 der each flower-stalk there is a lanceolate bractea, set round 

 with black stalked glands. In the same manner are the five 

 lanceolate leaves of the calyx inclosed. Of the several flow- 



