256 Mr. Awpznsox's Monograph of the Genus Pæonia. 
2. PÆONIA ALBIFLORA. 
P. caule subtrifloro herbaceo, foliolis ovato-lanceolatis conflu- 
entibus laciniatis, germinibus glabris, floribus erectis. 
P. albiflora. Pall. Ross. v. ii. p. 99. t. 84. Willd. Sp. Pl. v. ii. 
: p. 1222. Hort. Kew. v. iii. p. 316. Reess Cycl. — 
P. lacteo flore, foliis utrinque viridantibus et miennes Gme- 
lin in Amman. Ruth. 11. n. 103. 
P. fructibus tribus glabris. Gmelin Sib. v. iv. p. 184. 
Radicis tubera fusiformia, fusca, aggregata. Planta omnino glaberrima. Caulis bi- tripe- 
dalis et ultra, angulosus, flexuosus, in duos aut tres pedunculos versus apicem de- 
sinens, interdum simplex, precipue apud axillas (petiolumque) rubescens. Folia 
biternata, foliola modo lobata, seu incisa, decurrentia, hinc confluentia, lanceolata, 
latitudine et figura, secundum varietates, valde diversa, acuminata, subtus nitidissi- 
me viridia, supra saturatiora, venis atro-rubentibus protuberantibus, marginibus scabra. 
Bracteæ nonnullæ foliaceæ, inferiores partite, superiores in calycis foliola orbiculata 
. sensim transeuntes. Corolla variat petalis 8—14, colore vario a niveo ad roseum, sub- 
incisis, erosis, plicatulis, interioribus angustatis. Stamina splendide aurea. Membra- 
na vere perigyna longior quam in ceteris spe iceis, lobata seu lacera. Ger- 
mina 3—5, primum erecta demum recürvato-patentia j ; stigmata obtusiuscula reflexa, 
Floret fine Maii ad finem Junii. | 
We had almost persuaded ourselves that Besler's two figures in 
Hort. Eyst. Plant. Vern. ordo vi. no. 12 & 13, belonged to this spe- 
cies ;—but what can we say for an author's accuracy, who deli- 
neates P. officinalis with a divided stem supporting two flowers ? 
Native of a vast range of latitude, from the northern regions of 
Siberia down to the dominions of China. Pallas found it in Mon- 
gol Tartary, and on the borders of Lake Baical. Its roots, he 
says, are used as an article of food by the Tartars, and the seeds 
reduced to powder mixed with their tea. Discovered also on 
Mount Caucasus, and in Georgia on grassy hills. : 
In proportion to the diversity of climate it is found to- vary in 
form and stature. We have in vain endeavoured to discover any 
fixed 
