St John's wort: A genus of the polyandria order, belonging to the polyadelphia clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 20th order, Rotaceae. The calyx is quinquepartite; the petals five; the filaments many, and coalesced at the base into five pencils; the seed-vessel is a pencil.

Species. Of this genus there are 29 species, most of them hardy deciduous shrubs, and under-shrubby plants, adorned with oblong and oval simple foliage, and pentapetalous yellow flowers in clusters. The most remarkable are, 1. The bircicium, or stinking St John's-wort. This rises three or four feet high, with several shrubby two-edged stalks from the root, branch- ing by pairs opposite at every joint; oblong, oval, clove-fitting, opposite leaves; and at the ends of all the young shoots, clusters of yellow flowers. Of this there are three varieties; one with strong stalks, six or eight feet high, broad leaves, and large flowers; the other with strong stalks, broad leaves, and without any disagreeable odour; the third hath variegated leaves. All these varieties are shrubby; and flower in June and July in such numerous clusters, that the shrubs appear covered with them; and produce abundance of seed in autumn. 2. The canarien- sis, hath shrubby stalks, dividing and branching six or seven feet high; oblong, clove-fitting leaves by pairs; and, at the ends of the branches, clusters of yellow flowers appearing in June and July. 3. The alyson, or dwarf American St John's-wort, hath spreading roots, sending up numerous, slender, square stalks, a foot long; oval, spear-shaped, clove-fitting, smooth leaves by pairs opposite; and, at the end of the stalks, large yellow flowers. 4. The androsum, commonly called tutan, or park-leaves, hath an upright under- shrubby stalk, two feet high, branching by pairs op- posite; and at the ends of the stalks, clusters of small yellow flowers appearing in July and August, and succeeded by roundish berry-like black capsules. This grows naturally in many parts of Britain. 5. The balcaricum, or wart-leaved St John's-wort, is a native of Majorca; and hath a shrubby stalk, branching two feet high, with reddish scarified branches, small oval leaves warted underneath, and large yellow flowers appearing great part of the year. 6. The monecynum, or one-styled China hypericum, hath a shrubby purple stalk, about two feet high; oblong, smooth, stiff, clove- Hypericum sitting leaves, of a shining green above, and white underneath; clusters of small yellow flowers, with coloured cups, and only one style, flowering the greatest part of the year.

Culture. The four first species are hardy, and will grow in any soil or situation; the three last must be potted, in order to have shelter in the greenhouse in winter. The two first species propagate very fast by suckers, which are every year sent up plentifully from the root; and in autumn or spring may be readily slipped off from the old plants with roots to each, or the whole plant may be taken up and divided into as many parts as there are suckers and slips with roots, planting the strongest where they are to remain, and the weakest in nursery-rows, where they are to remain a year in order to acquire strength. They may also be propagated by seeds sown in autumn, in a bed of common earth, in drills an inch deep. The other two hardy sorts are also propagated by slipping the roots in autumn, or early in the spring; and may likewise be raised in great plenty from seeds. The three other species are propagated by layers and cuttings, planted in pots, and plunged in a hot bed.

Properties. The tuttah hath long held a place in the medicinal catalogues; but its uses are very much undetermined. The leaves given in substance are said to destroy worms. By distillation they yield an essential oil. The flowers tinge spirits and oils of a fine purple colour. Cows, goats, and sheep, eat the plant; horses and swine refuse it. The dried plant boiled in water with alum, dyes yarn of a yellow colour; and the Swedes give a fine purple tinge to their spirits with the flowers.