POETRY OF FLOWERS. 
211 
ST. JOHN’S WORT. 
Hypericum . Class 18 ; Order 4. 
A genus of one hundred species, dispersed over the 
world. Flowers yellow and briliant. It possesses 
medicinal properties. 
SUPERSTITION.-ANIMOSITY. 
I must gather the mystic St. John’s wort to-night. 
The wonderful herb whose leaf will decide 
If the coming year shall make me a bride. 
From the German. 
This bright yellow blossom, with its glittering 
golden stamens, is very well known by its gene¬ 
ric name of hypericum , but as the floral symbol 
of superstition, its old English appellation of 
St. John’s wort seems most appropriate. In the 
earliest records of the wonderful properties as¬ 
signed to this world-renowned emblem, it is 
styled fugas demonum, or devil's flight, because 
the virtue was ascribed to it of frightening 
away l< auld Ilornie,” and all his mischievous 
crew, of defending folks from spectres, and of 
generally putting all evil-disposed apparition? 
to the rout. To the peasantry of France, and 
of the less educated countries of Germany, 
this flower is still endowed with marvellous 
qualities ; and on the nativity of St. John the 
