POLYADELPHIA. POLYANDRIA. Hypericum. 871 
Ger. Em. 539. I—Park. 573. I—Pet. 60. 5—Matth. 93 6—Ger. 432. 1— 
Fuchs. 831 —Trag. 72. 1 —H. Ox. v. 6. 1. 
(Whole plant quite free from hairs, more bushy and of a darker green than the 
preceding; much impregnated with an odorous essential oil which stains 
purple. Stems upright, two feet high, E.) nearly cylindrical, the edges 
running from the base of the leaves to the bottom of the knot below, 
beset above with small black dots. Leaves in cross pairs, oblong, 
rounded at the end, with seven, and sometimes five, semi-transparent 
lines, with several black dots near the edges on the underside; the semi¬ 
transparent dots numerous. Fruit-stalks from the bosom of the upper 
leaves. Calyx, segments spear-shaped, taper-pointed. ( Flowers yellow, 
in dense terminal panicles. E.) Petals ribbed, set near the edges with 
dark purple glands, one of the sides very entire at the edge, the other 
serrated. Stamens 30 or more. Anthers with a globular black gland at 
the top between the lobes. Germen egg-shaped. Styles thread-shaped, 
yellow. Summits sometimes crimson. 
Common Perforated St. John’s Wort. (Irish: Allais Muire. Welsh: 
Eurinllys trydwll. Gaelic: Achlasan-Challum chille. E.) Thickets, 
woods, hedges, dry banks. P. July—Aug.* 
* (This plant has long held a place in the Materia Medica, but its use is undetermined, 
notwithstanding such enconiums as the following by old authors. “Diureticum est 
et vulnerarium insigne.” Ray. “ Egregiuin est medicamentum in mania intus sump- 
tum.” Sala. Grembs. “ Mihi quoque sajpius expertum: idem praestat et in melancholia.” 
Needham. Dr. Swediaur recommends an infusion of the flowering heads in haemoptysis, 
and worms. The anti-maniacal properties attributed to this herb by empirics, and the 
portentous appellation bestowe'd upon it of “ Fuga Dxmonum ,” appear to have rendered it 
obnoxious to various popular superstitions both at home and abroad. On the Eve of St. John 
the Baptist, the people of North Wales fix sprigs of it over their doors, and sometimes over 
their windows, in order to purify their houses, and by that means drive away fiends and evil 
spirits, in the same manner as the Druids were accustomed to do with Vervain. Bingley’s 
Tour. In Germany, ceremonials are practised, (somewhat resembling those of Hallow E’en 
in Scotland), to prognosticate the good or bad fortune of young men and maidens in 
obtaining partners for life. On Midsummer night the young girls fasten sprigs of St. 
John’s-wort against the walls of their chamber, and by the state of the sprig on the 
ensuing morning, anticipate whether or not their condition shall soon be changed ; if fresh, 
no longer are they to remain in single blessedness; if withered, then must be prepared 
the willow garland, for so are they destined to droop and pine away. 
“ The young maid stole through the cottage door. 
And blushed as she sought the plant of ■power : 
“ Thou silver glow-worm, O lend me thy light! 
I must gather the mystic St. John's Wort to night, 
The wonderful herb, whose leaf will decide 
If the coming year shall see me a bride.” 
And the glow-worm came 
With its silvery flame, 
And sparkled and shone 
Through the night of St. John, 
And soon has the young maid her love-knot tied, 
With noiseless tread, 
To her chamber she sped. 
Where the spectral moon her white beams shed ■ 
“Bloom here—bloom here, thou plant of power, 
To deck the young bride in her bridal hour ! ” 
But it drooped its head, that plant of power, 
And died the mute death of the voiceless flower. 
And a withered wreath on the ground it lay, 
More meet for a burial than bridal day. 
