Peony Classification. 345 



to a deep red after being exposed to the light for a few days. How- 

 ever, the state of pubescence is important, for these carpels may be 

 smooth and glistening, or they may be covered with a dense tomentum, 

 or in some cases with a few scattering hairs. 



In semi-double flowers the presence of the carpels is not a good char 

 acter for description, for it is very evident that their presence depends 

 largely on the state of cultivation of the plot, the length of time the 

 plant has been established and the soil. In semi-double flowers, it is 

 very common for weak, or young plants, or buds on the sides of the 

 stem, to produce flowers with normal carpels, while very vigorous and 

 well-fed plants of the same variety produce flowers in which these 

 seed vessels have been partially or completely changed to carpelodes. 

 Sometimes vestiges of the anthers may be found adhering to the edges 

 of the carpelodes, sometimes not. We have used the term "remnants" 

 to designate both these abortive carpels and the abortive anthers of 

 the stamens 



The stigmas are usually recurved, but this also depends to some 

 extent on the vigor of the plant. When the stigma is red in a weak 

 plant, the double flower from a vigorous plant will show carpelodes 

 edged or flecked with crimson. When the stigma is green, the flecks 

 on the carpelodes will be green. These flecks on the carpelodes of the 

 crown and rose type peonies are nothing more than the last vestiges 

 of the stigmas of the lost carpels. But the color of these flecks is an 

 important distinguishing character. Their frequency and size are 

 often a reliable and valuable means of distinguishing between two 

 similar varieties. 



Size. — In the descriptions which follow, the size is given in com- 

 parative terms only, as {very large, large, medium, small and very 

 small). The actual measurement in inches is of little or no value, 

 as there is naturally much variation within a given variety under different 

 conditions. 



Odor. — Odor is a character which depends so much on personal likes 

 and dislikes that it is often very difhcult to describe. We have estab- 

 lished six theoretical characterizations for the odor, viz., pleasant, 

 single, double, or triple "X," and unpleasant, single, double or 

 triple "X." 



Color. — Most peony blooms fade more or less in bright sunlight. 

 It is therefore not advisable to take comparative notes on color in the 

 field, for no man can control the degree of sunlight or compare the 

 colors satisfactorily in changeable weather. The buds should be cut 



