CL. XVIII.] S5. HYPERICITM MONTANUM. 415 



leaves, and the round stem also is set with them ; the leaves 

 also are much smsiller. H. alpinum Kit. (Hung. 3. t. 265.) 

 is also very nearly related, but is distinguished by fine hairs 

 oft the petals, and by having the upper part of its stem two- 

 edged. H, dentatum Loisel. (Fl. Gall. % p. 499. t. 17.) 

 has completely the external appearance of H, montanum; 

 but the leaves are not studded on the margin with black, but 

 every where with pellucid points, and those farthest up are 

 fringed and ciliated on th6 margin. We cannot, with Poiret, 

 (Enc. Suppl. 3. 700.) suppose it to be a subspecies of our 

 plant. H. pukhrum, to which H. montanum is also very si- 

 milar, has quite short, ovate leaves, embracing the stem, and 

 line dark points. H. hirsutum is distinguished by the shag- 

 gy hair which covers the stem^ and the lower surface of the 

 leaves. 



The genus Hypericum, along with some others, constitutes 

 a natural tribe, which includes the Guttiferae {Marcgraviece 

 and Mesuea), and has, in common with them, the coloured 

 peculiar sap, the indeterminate number of the almost united 

 filaments, and the number five prevailing in the calyx and 

 in the corolla. As we do not observe any nectaries in most 

 of the species of Hypericum, we distinguish as a peculiar 

 species, under the name Martia {Elodea Adans.) the H, Vir- 

 ginicum L. and petiolatum Wall., on account of three necta^ 

 rious glands on the base of the petals, between the bundles 

 of filaments. Jndrosamum Tourn. also is distinguished by 

 the berry-shaped fruit, and Ascyrum by its four-leaved ca^- 

 lyx and corolla, and by its two-valved capsule. On the other 

 hand, the diagnostic character of Hypericum is its five-leaved 

 calyx ; its corolla, consisting of five petals ; its filaments in 

 three or more bundles ; no nectaries ; three or five pistilla ; 

 a three or five valved capsule, with the margins of the valves 

 involuted. To this genus also is now added Sarolhra L.y 

 the filaments of which vary from five to ten. 



Synonymes and Figures. 



Hypericon II. Trag\ S8; 

 Androsaemon, Fuchs, 76. 



