DESCRIPTION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
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apex, flowers 1' broad, pale or deep lilac, purple or blue. 
The variety V. bicolor, Pursh, is very handsome, resembling 
a pansy. The two upper petals deep violet or purple, velvety. 
It has become introduced into gardens as an ornamental 
plant. Growing on shale or silicious ground over the State. 
Flowers in early April to May. Roots, collected in fall. 
HYPERICINEiE. (St. John’s- wort Family.) 
Hypericum perforatum, L. Common St. John’s-wort. Peren- 
nial herb, 15-20 inches high, with yellow flowers disposed in 
corymbs with 5 sepals and 5 oblique petals, which are convo- 
lute in the bud; flowerstems somewhat 2-edged, leaves 
elliptical, oblong, with pellucid dots. It is an introduced 
weed, hard to eradicate where it is allowed to establish itself. 
FI. June-July, when it should be collected for use. 
CARYOPHYLLACEiE. (Pink Family.) 
Saponaria officinalis, L. Soapwort. Bouncing Bet. An her- 
baceous plant belonging to the pink family, bearing rose- 
colored flowers on stout stems. Leaves opposite, entire, oval- 
lanceolate. Calyx oblong-cylindrical 5-toothed ; petals 5. 
Adventitious from Europe, but now widely spreading, espe- 
cially around habitations. July-September. The leaves, 
when bruised in water, may be worked into a lather. Col- 
lect the leaves and the root. 
Stellaria media, Smith. Chickweed. Low, spreading annual, 
troublesome weed with small white star-shaped flowers, which 
appear, even in midwinter, during a few warm days. Petals 
shorter than the calyx, 2-parted ; stamens 3-10. It is char- 
acterized by a line of hairs on one side of the stem, changing 
to the opposite side whenever it reaches a pair of leaves. 
The herb. 
PORTULACACEiE. (Purslane Family.) 
Portulaca oleracea, L. (Common Purslane.) It is a prostrate 
annual, seldom more than 6' high, glabrous, with small ob- 
