NAT. ORDER. 
HijpericinecB. 
HYPERICUM HIECmUN. FCETID ST. JOHN'S-WOST. 
Class XVIII. PoLYADELPHiA. Order II Polyandria. 
Gen. Cluir. Capsule^ membranaceous. Stamens, numerous, free. 
Petals, five. Sepals, five, connected at the base. Styles, three 
to five. Capsules, one, many celled, many seeded. 
Spe. Char. Branches, winged. Leaves, emarginate. Peduncles, bi- 
bracteate. Stamens, exceeding the corolla in length. 
This species of St. John's-wort has a shrubby stalk, and rises 
from three to three and a half feet high, sending out small opposite 
branches at each joint ; the leaves are oblong, ovate, sessile, placed in 
pairs, and have a peculiar disagreeable rank smell ; thejlowers are in 
terminating bunches, producing the appearance of a large ball of 
flowers when in full blossom. It is said to be a native of the south of 
Europe, but grows naturally on the hills in the central part of Massa- 
chusetts. It seeks the most rocky, desolate places on the north side 
of high hills, where the forest is densely set with trees, forming almost 
a perpetual shade. 
Hypeiicum balearicum. Warted St. John's-wort. This plant 
rises with a slender shrubby stalk in this country, about two feet high ; 
but in its native soil it acquires the height of seven or eight feet, send- 
ing out several weak branches of a reddish color, and marked with 
scars where the leaves have fallen off; the leaves are small, oval, 
waved on their edges, and having several small protruberances on 
their under side — they sit close to the branches, half embracing them 
Vol. IV. — 154. 
