leaves are much lobed, and variousl}' cut into segments. 

 Flowers solitary, large, and of a fine deep crimson. 



Of the varieties of Paonia officinalis, Mr. Sabine, in a paper 

 in the Horticultural Transactions, vol. ii. on the double herba- 

 ceous Paonias, mentions three — P. officinalis rubra, P. qffi^ci- 

 nalis carnesce7is, and P. officinalis albicans. The first of these 

 (which is here figured), although seen in almost every garden, 

 should not on that account be omitted from a publication like 

 the present, nor should it detract from its merits as an orna- 

 mental plant. Mr. Sabine has observed, " It is singular that 

 none of the beautiful tribe here noticed has been figured in 

 publications of later years." 



This plant is of strong growth, and rises to the height of 

 from two to three feet, with numbers of beautiful red flowers 

 appearing in the months of May and June ; and as it grows 

 freely in common borders, is a desirable plant to add gaiety 

 to the shrubbery. The roots are very prolific, in large clusters 

 of tubers, which, if separated in September or early in Octo- 

 ber, will flower the succeeding summer, provided each of the 

 tubers have eyes to shoot from. This variety being double, 

 and deficient of stamens and pistils, cannot produce seeds; 

 consequently can only be increased by the roots. The single- 

 flowered of this species is seldom cultivated, and until recently 

 was rarely met with ; its habit of growth is very similar to the 

 double, but the flowers are not so conspicuous. 



It is a native of the South of Europe, and was cultivated 

 in this country in 1560. It is supposed to be the Pceonia 

 mentioned by Pliny as noted for its medicinal properties. 



