  Class and Order. Polyadelphia Polyandria. Generic Character. Calyx 5-partitus. Petala 5. Filamenta multa, in 5 phalanges basi connata. Capsula. Specific Character and Synonyms. HYPERICUM calycinum floribus pentagynis solitariis terminalibus, caule tetragono fruticoso, foliis oblongo-ovatis coriaceis. Linn. Syst. Vegetab. p. 700. Mant. 106. Hort. Kew. v. 3. 103. ASCYRUM magno flore. Bauh. Pin. 280. Prodr. 130. ANDROSÆMUM Constantinopolitanum flore maximo. Wheler's Journey into Greece, p. 205. cum fig. No 146. No146. This species of St. John's-Wort, particularly distinguished by the largeness of its flowers, has very generally been considered as the Ascyron of LinnÆus, owing to his giving to that plant the synonyms which properly belong to the present one: in his Mantissa, this species is called calycinum, which name is adopted in the 14th edition of the Systema Vegetabilium, and also in the Hortus Kewensis, where the proper synonyms are applied to it, and from which we learn, that it is a native of the country near Constantinople, and was introduced into this country by Sir George Wheler, Bart. in 1676. It is a hardy perennial, increasing much by its roots, which are of the creeping kind, and by parting of which in the autumn it is most readily propagated; like the periwinkle, it is a plant well adapted to cover a bank, or bare, spots under trees, where other plants will not thrive. It flowers from July to September. |
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