342 



2. PiEONIA TENUIFOLIA. 



FINE-LEAVED P^ONY. 



This genus comprises plants of the large herbaceous flowery 

 perennial kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Pohjondria Digijnia, and ranks 

 in the natural order of Ma/tisi/igua-. 



The characters are: that the calyx is a five-leaved pcrianthium, 

 small, permanent: leaflets roundish, concave, reflex, unequal in size 

 and situation : the corolla has five roundish petals, concave, nar- 

 rower at the base, spreading, very large; the stamina have numerous 

 filaments, (about three hundred) capillary, short : anthers oblong, 

 quadrangular, erect, four-celled, large: the pistillum consists of two 

 ovate germs, erect, tomentose : styles none: stigmas compressed, 

 oblong, blunt, coloured : the pericarpium has as many capsules, 

 ovate-oblong, spreading and reflex, tomentose, one-celled, one-valved, 

 opening longitudinally inwards: the seeds several, oval, shining, co- 

 loured, fastened to the opening suture. 



The species arc: 1. P, officinalis. Common Peony; 2. F. tefinij'o- 

 lia, Slender-leaved Peon}'. 



'J'he first has a thick large root, constituted of several thick fleshy 

 tubers, hanging by strings to the main head, with upright round 

 smooth stems, l)ranching half a yard or two feet in height: the 

 leaves are large, many-lobed, with oblong-oval spreading folioles: 

 the flowers large, deep red or purple, on the terminations of the 

 stalks, ' ■' 



There are two principal varieties: the Common Female and Male 

 Peony. 



The former of these has the roots composed of several roundish 

 thick knobs or tubers, which hang below each other, fastened with 



