CLXIX.— SQUARE-STEMMED ST. JOHN’S-WORT. 
Hypericum quadrangulum Linne. 
T HE etymology of the name Hypericum is very uncertain. It is used in the 
Greek form ‘Tnepeucov, Hupereikon, by Dioscorides, and has been derived 
from V7T ep, huper, beyond, and epeiurj, creike, heath. A more far-fetched derivation 
is from vn ep, huper, and eluaju, eikon, an image, because — it is supposed — of its use 
as an amulet against spirits ; but it is doubtful whether the belief in its power 
against evil spirits is of Classical origin, or not rather mediaeval. 
The golden radiant blossoms of the various species appear about the time of 
the summer solstice. The Hairy St. John’s-wort ( Hypericum hirsuium Linne) comes 
into flower in the south of England from June 19th to July 23rd, or on an average, 
according to our present calendar, on June 30th ; the Upright St. John’s-wort 
(H. pulchrum Linn£), from June 19th to August 2nd ; the Common (H . perforatum 
Linne) and the Square-stalked species (H. quadrangulum Linne) between the same 
dates. There is abundant evidence to connect ancient Celtic religious rites with a 
Nature-worship in which the solstices played an important part. The rites of 
Midsummer were the counterpart of those of Yule-tide ; and the word Yule itself 
has been interpreted as carrying with it the notion of revolution, such as that of the 
seasons typified by a wheel. Down to the last century a custom lingered in 
Cornwall — that last refuge of Celtic tradition — of twining St. John’s-wort round a 
wheel to symbolise the sun, taking it to a mountain top on Midsummer Eve, 
lighting it at the sacred bonfire and hurling it downhill, that it might roll away all 
evil from the man who cast it down. Barnaby Googe (1540-94), in his “ Popish 
Kingdome,” writes : — 
Then doth the joyfull feast of John the Baptist take his turne, 
When bonfiers great, with loftie flame, in every towne doe burne ; . . . 
Some others get a rotten wheele, all worne and cast aside, 
Which, covered round about with strawe and tow, they closely hide : 
And caryed to some mountaines top, being all with fire light, 
They hurle it downe with violence, when darke appears the night : 
Resembling much the Sunne, that from the heavens down should fal, 
A straunge and monstrous sight it seemes, and fearfull to them all : 
But they suppose their mischiefes all are likewise throwne to hell, 
And lhat from harmes and daungers now, in safetie here they dwell.’* 
Serving thus to avert all evils, Hypericum hung outside the house was a 
preservative against lightning and evil spirits, worn as an amulet it averted the evil 
eye, and, gathered before sunrise and administered internally, it was a remedy 
against hydrophobia, and other forms of mania. Hence its mediaeval name Fuga 
dcemonum, the German Teufelsflucht and Jagelleufel. Robert Burton, in his “Anatomy 
of Melancholy,” writes : — 
“ Bassardus Viscontinus commends hypericon, or St. John’s wort gathered on a Friday in the hour of Jupiter, when it 
comes to his effectual operation (that is, about the full moon in July) j so gathered and borne, or hung about the neck, it 
mightily helps this affection, and drives away all fantastical spirits.” 
