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Show PERFORATED ST. JOHN’S WoRT. 671 HISTORY. Native of Britain ; commonin woods anduncultivated grounds, and flowers in July. MEDICAL VIRTUE. Formerly it was supposed, and not without reason, that madmen were possessed of the devil, and this plant was found so successfitl in that disorder, that it had the title of Fuga de- monum, as curing demoniacs. Matthiolus writes, ‘¢ Scripsere quidem Hypericum adeoodisse demones, ut ejus suffitu statim avolent.” It has not been tried in modern practice, except in hysteria and suppressed menses in a decoction. The colouring matter gives a good dye to wool. Andoil reddened with this plant is kept in some shops against burns. PERFORATED ST. JOHN’S WORT. HYPERICUM PERFORATUM. a Class XVIII. Polyadelphia. Order IV. Polyandria. Essent. Gen. Cuan. Calysfive-parted, inferior : Petals five : Filaments numerous, in three or five parcels, united at the base: seeded. Spec. Cuar. Styles three: Siem two- Capsule many- obtuse, with pellucid dots; divisions of the Calyxlinear-lanceolate, acute. DESCRIPTION. Risesto a foot and half in height. bearing. Branches opposite, flower- Leaves sessile, in pairs, entire, beset with aa number of minute transparent vesicles, which havethe < ance of perforations. Flowers numerous, elegant, five-pe of a beautiful yellow. Stamina in three parcels. Anthers yell with a small black glandto each. |