BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
71 
in relieving bruises ; and partly in allusion to the numerous little dots in the leaves, which make them look as 
though they were pierced through in a thousand places. Thus an old poet says— 
“ Hypericum was there, that herb of war, 
Pierced through with wounds, and marked with many a scar.” 
In the days of chivalry, before two knights entered into mortal combat at a tournament, they were obliged 
to take an oath that neither of them carried about their persons any “ St. John’s-Wort,” or other “ Herb of 
Power.” 
4. —THE UPRIGHT ST. JOHN’S-WORT. (Hypericum pulchrum, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1227 ; 2nd ed., 1059 ; and our serrations. Stem erect, round. Leaves clasping the stem, heart- 
fig. 4, in PI. 16. shaped, smooth. ( Smith.) 
Specific Character. _Styles three. Calyx ovate, with glandular 
Description, &c. —This species is very common in dry woods and heaths, and it is a very elegant perennial. 
The stems grow from one to two feet high, and, though very slender, they are quite erect. The petals are of a 
bright yellow, and the stamens have dark crimson anthers. 
5.—THE MARSH ST. JOHN’S-WORT. (H. elodes, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., 1.109 ; 2nd ed., 1060 ; and our fig. 5, Stem procumbent, creeping, round, shaggy, like the roundish obtuse 
in PI. 16. leaves. Panicle of few flowers. (Smith). 
Specific Character. —Styles three. Calyx obtuse, glandular. 
Description, &c.— The stems of this species are procumbent, and root at their joints; the leaves are 
roundish, and the flowers, which are of a pale dingy yellow, only exposed in bright sunshine. The species is 
very common in spongy bogs, and is occasionally found on the banks of stagnant water. 
THE IMPERFORATE ST. JOHN’S-WORT. (H. dubium, Lin.) 
This is a very handsome species, with rather large bright yellow flowers, which ai’e frequently more or less 
sprinkled with dark purple glands. It is, however, easily distinguished by the leaves being without any trans¬ 
parent dots. It is a perennial, and flowers in July and August. 
THE TRAILING ST. JOHN’S-WORT. (H. humifusum, Lin.) 
This is a pretty little perennial plant, with slender, trailing stems, and thin, pale-green, dotted leaves. The 
flowers are small, of a bright yellow, and the capsules are red. It is very common in every part of England in 
moist woods and on commons, where the soil is sandy or gravelly, and it flowers throughout all the summer. 
THE MOUNTAIN ST. JOHN’S-WORT. (H. montanum, Lin.) 
This is an upright-growing perennial, bearing its pale-yellow flowers in a terminal panicle; but it is easily 
distinguished by the bracts, the calyx, and the lower surface of the leaves being fringed with a marginal row of 
dark purple glands. It is generally found on hilly places, in a chalky soil, and it flowers in July. 
THE BEARDED ST. JOHN’S-WORT. (H. barbatum, Jacq.) 
This is a very doubtful native, as it has only been found in one place in Perthshire. 
