72 FLORA HISTORICA. 



his name, — except amongst the Italians and Spani- 

 ards of modern days, who, in defiance of antiquity, 

 have presumed to name it Mountain-Rose, because 

 it grows naturally in the mountainous parts of their 

 countries, the Itahan name being Rosa cW monti, 

 and the Spanish, Rosa del monfe. 



The Hortus Kewensis notices ten distinct species 

 of Peonies, besides varieties ; and the Dutch cata- 

 logues of the present day enumerate no less than 

 twenty-three different species and varieties of this 

 grand flower. 



England claims one species, coraUina, entire- 

 leaved, as a native of her soil ; and Gerard tells us 

 that it grew wild in his day on a rabbit warren, in the 

 parish of Southfleet, in Kent. This was called the 

 male Peony, and is the kind of which the root has 

 been so highly extolled in medical works. 



The superb Double Crimson Peony of our gar- 

 dens, officinalis, is a native of the mountains of 

 Switzerland, as also of the Alps, from whence it 

 has long been brought to decorate our parterres, as 

 it is mentioned by our oldest writers on plants. 



Gerard observes, in his time, that we had not 

 obtained the Double White Peony, but he adds, 

 *^ We do expect it from the lowe countries of 

 Flaunders." 



The same species of Peony is found to vary much 

 in different countries, that of Portugal having an 

 agreeable sweet scent. 



