black Jots near the edges on the under side ; and numerous pellucid 
dots on the surface, which appear more distinct if held up to the 
light. Flowers bright yellow, doited and streaked with black, or 
dark purple, numerous, in dense, forked, terminal panicles. Calyx 
segments (fig. 2.) narrow, spear-shaped, taper-pointed. Petals 
striated, set near the edges, and sometimes over the whole surface 
with very dark purple glands ; one of the sides entire, the other 
irregularly notched. Filaments numerous, united at the bottom 
into 3 scarcely distinct parcels (fig. 1.). Anthers 2-lobed, lobes 
roundish, with a small, globular, black gland between them (see 
fig. 3.) ; this “little black gland,” Mr. Curtis observes, “at one 
view distinguishes this species, without any further investigation.” 
Germen (fig. 2.) egg-shaped. Styles 3, thread-shaped, yellow. 
Stigmas simple, sometimes crimson. Capsule (fig. 4.) large, egg- 
shaped. 
“ As this plant was found to bleed at the slightest touch, it was 
supposed to have a vulnerary quality, and became the ‘ Balm of 
the Warrior’s wound,’ giving a blood-red colour to every compo- 
sition, whether of a spirituous or oily nature, into which it entered. 
The essential oil, the seat of this colour, is aromatic, and possi- 
bly tonic or stimulating; without much acrimony.” Engl. FI. 
The dried plant boiled in water with alum, dyes wool of a yellow 
colour. 
“ In former times the Hypericum or St. John's-wort, was looked 
upon as a ‘ plant of power’ in the expulsion of demons, in hinder- 
ing witches of their will, and in prognosticating the good or bad 
fortune of young men and maidens, as to their obtaining partners 
for life. In Lower Saxony the young girls, to this day, gather 
sprigs of it on Midsummer night, and fasten them to the walls of 
their bed-chamber. If, on the ensuing morning, the sprig remains 
fresh, a suitor may be expected ; if it droop or wither, the maid is 
destined to an early grave. Hypericum perforatum is the species 
which was used in this country ; and the belief in its virtues is said 
still to linger among the people of North Wales. This superstition 
gave origin to some beautiful and romantic lines, transcribed from 
a German Almanack, and published in Blackwood’s Magazine 
for January, 1821. These lines have been copied into Times Tele- 
scope for 1823, p. 163. — Forster’s Perennial Calendar, p. 310. — 
Withering’s Bot. Arr. (7th ed.) v. iii. p. 871. — Johnston’s 
Flora of Berwick-upon-Tweed, v.i. p. 166 ; and into a very delight- 
ful little volume, The Naturalist's Poetical Companion, p. 59. 
The Natural Order Hypeiuci'niwe is composed of dicotyledonous Herbace- 
ous Plants, and Shrubs, or even Trees, with a resinous juice. Leaves oppo- 
site, simple, dotted. Flowers generally yellow. Inflorescence variable. Calyx 
in 4 or 5, very deep, somewhat unequal segments, with glandular dots. Corolla 
of 4 or 5 hypogynous Petals, which ate spirally twisted previous to their evolu- 
tion, often having black dots. Stamens indefinite, hypogynous (inserted below 
the germen), in 3 or more parcels. Anthers versatile (vane-like). Ovary 
(Germen) single, superior, surmounted by several Styles, which are sometimes 
united into one ; Stigmas simple. Fruit a capsule or berry, of many valves 
and many cells ; the inner edges of the valves being curved inwards. Seeds 
numerous, very minute, usually tapering; Embryo straight, with an inferior 
Radicle, and no Albumen. Most of the species of this family of plants, have, 
in the substance of their leaves, transparent glands, which, on being held between 
the eye and the light, look like so many little holes. This character, together 
with the very numerous stamina and the polyspermous cells of the fruit, per- 
fectly distinguish the Hypericineae from the families that are allied to it. See 
Lindl. Syn, and Rich, by MacgiUiv. 
