BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
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separated from the genus Hypericum, is that its fruit is a berry, while that of the Hypericum is a dry capsule. 
Both these genera are placed in the Linneean class Polyadelphia, because their stamens are in five sets or 
brotherhoods ; and in the order Polyandria, on account of the great number of the stamens. 
GENUS I. 
THE ST. JOHN’S-WORT. (Hypericum, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. POLYADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. 
Generic Character. — Capsule membranous. Styles three to five, 
sometimes variable in number. Stamens numerous, polyadelphous, 
occasionally reduced to almost a definite number. Petals five. 
Sepals five, more or less united at the base. Herbaceous plants or 
shrubs. Leaves opposite, often with pellucid dots, or black dots at 
the margin. ( Dec.) 
Description, &c. —The plants belonging to this genus are either perennials or shrubs, and their flowers are 
of a most brilliant golden yellow. The leaves of most of the species appear covered with little dots when they 
are held up to the light ; these dots being, in fact, cells filled with a kind of resinous oil, which makes the 
plants give out a strong smell of resin when the leaves are rubbed between the fingers. The French call this 
plant milk pertuis or thousand holes, from these pellucid dots on the leaves. The flowers of all this genus have 
five petals and the stamens in five bundles, one bundle being at the base of each petal. The origin of the name 
of Hypericum is unknown, but it was used by Dioscorides. 
1.—THE LARGE-FLOWERED ST. JOHN’S-WORT. (Hypericum calfcinum, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 2017; 2nd ed., t. 1050; and our shrubby, branched, quadrangular. Segments of the calyx obovate, 
fig. 1, in PI. 16. obtuse, permanently spreading. Leaves oblong. (Smith.) 
Specific Character. —Styles five. Flowers solitary. Stem 
Description, &c.— This very splendid plant is said to be only a doubtful native ; but it certainly grows wild 
in many parts of England, particularly on the southern coast of Devonshire. It is also found in great abund¬ 
ance near Cork in Ireland. It is an evergreen under-shrub, with creeping underground stems ; so that when 
once established, it spreads rapidly. It is called the Star of Bethlem in Warwickshire. 
2.— ST. PETER’S-WORT. (Hypericum quadrangulum, Lin.) 
Engravings.— Eng. Bot., t. 370 ; 2nd ed., t. 1052 ; and our fig. 2, 
in PI. 16. 
Specific Character. —Styles three. Stem herbaceous, with four 
sharp angles. Leaves with copious pellucid dots, 
calyx lanceolate. (Smith.) 
Segments of the 
Description, &c. —This species is easily recognised by its square stalk, and the small size of its flowers, 
which appear almost all stamens. The species is common in every part of England wherever there is moist or 
marshy ground ; but its favourite situation is a hedge-bank, where its roots can penetrate to the ditch below. 
The stems grow erect, two or three feet high, and are perfectly square, but not in the slightest degree shrubby. 
3 —THE COMMON ST. JOHN’S-WORT. (Hypericum perforatum, Lin.) 
Engravings.— Eng. Bot., t. 295; 2nd ed., t. 1053; and our fig. | obtuse, with copious pellucid dots. Segments of the calyx anceolate. 
3 - in PI- 16. (Smith.) 
Specific Character.— Styles three. Stem two-edged. Leaves 
Description, &c. —This is the true St. John’s-Wort, which was formerly so universally believed to have the 
power of keeping away witches and evil spirits, when gathered on Midsummer Eve, on which account it was 
