THE ST. JOHN’S-WORT FAMILY 
[ORDER XVI. HYPERICINE./E] 
T HIS order is easily distinguished from others having 5 or 4 sepals and petals, by the 
numerous stamens which are collected into 3 or 5 bundles. 
It has a wide geographical distribution, but is represented in the British Isles by one genus 
only, the St. John’s-wort (Hypericum). 
Many of the species are aromatic and full of resin, some having medicinal properties. 
ST. JOHN’S-WORT. (HYPERICUM, LINN.) — Flowers in terminal clusters, the terminal or 
central flower opening first (cymes). Sepals 5 ; petals, 5, yellow, often edged with black or red 
glands ; stamens numerous, united at the base into 3 or 5 bundles ; carpels 3, rarely 5, with the 
same number of styles, each tipped with a small pin-head-like stigma ; fruit a capsule, 3-5-celled, 
opening at the top by the same number of teeth, many-seeded, rarely fleshy. Herbs or small 
shrubs, often with woody stems, and entire, opposite, stalkless leaves, with no stipules, frequently 
dotted with glands. 
Tutsan. (Hypericum Androsaeum, Linn.)— Flowers few, £ inch across, yellow, in 
small terminal clusters (corymbs). Sepals 5, broad, unequal ; petals 5, scarcely longer than the 
sepals ; stamens numerous, in 5 bundles about as long as the petals ; styles 3. Capsule round, 
fleshy and berry-like before it is fully ripe, purplish-black, becoming dry and decaying to free 
the seeds (indehiscent). Stem 1-3 feet high, erect, woody, with large leaves 1-3 inches long, egg- 
shaped (ovate), opposite and stalkless (sessile), sprinkled with transparent glands. [ Plate 27. 
Not common, local. Woods and shady lanes, south of England. June — August. Perennial. 
There are 3 similar species commonly found in shrubberies, none native : — Hypericum 
hircinum, Linn., with flowers i-i| inches across, the stamens longer than the petals, and small 
pointed sepals ; Hypericum elatum, Ait., very like Tutsan, with larger flowers about 1 inch 
across, the sepals smaller and more pointed, very long styles, and longer, narrower leaves ; and 
Hypericum calycinum, Linn., with large, solitary, terminal flowers, 3-4 inches across, 5 styles, 
the stem square, about 1 foot high, and the leaves long, oblong, and leathery. 
All flowering from July — September. Perennial. 
Common St. John’s-wort. (Hypericum perforatum, Linn.)— Flowers numerous, 
i-i£ inches across, in small compact clusters (cymes), terminating the main stem and branches. 
Sepals 5, pointed, lance-shaped, unequal, erect, united at the base, with a few stalkless glands ; 
petals 5, dotted with black glands, twice as long as the sepals ; stamens numerous, united into 
3 bundles ; styles 3, as long as the capsule, which is oblong, and opens at the top by 3 valves to 
