[Plate 31.] 
THE DEEP BLOOD-COLOURED MOUTAN. 
(MOUTAN OFFICINALIS; ATROSANGUINKA.) 
from China, belonging to the Natural Order of 
Pseonia Moutan, atrosanguinea : Journal of the Horticultural Society, vol. iv., p. 225 
Jt will probably be admitted, without any difference of opinion, that this is the fin 
Horticultural 
with 
green 
mix 
are nearly as broad in the centre as at the edge. In foliage it is m 
papyracea. 
And now a word respecting the genus Moutan, which we propose to separate from Paeonia. "We 
need not say that all the Moutans are furnished with a tough leathery coat which is drawn tightly 
round the carpels, of which it allows nothing but the stigmas to project. This organ has no exist- 
ence in Pseonia, or in that part of it which one of us formerly proposed to call OkjBPIA, containing 
P. Brownii and another. It is of somewhat uncertain nature ; wherefore it has received from different 
persons the names of Disk, Nectary, Perigynium, Paracorolla, &c. Upon this organ the genus 
Moutan is founded ; and thus it differs from Pseonia as much as Eanunculus from Adonis, Actea 
from Thalictrum, Trollius from Helleborus, all genera of the same order, that is to say, because of 
the presence of a part which does not appear in others. 
Of the nature of this part there is little room for doubt. It is in 
row of abortive stamens, the filaments of which are united into a cup, while the anthers refuse to 
appear; and therefore it is referable to that part of the flower which botanists now call disk. 
D. Don said he found anthers upon its edge, and if he was not mistaken that would be conclusive 
as to its nature ; but we have never been able to find anthers upon it, nor does it appear that any- 
one except Mr. Don ever did. 
all probability an innermost 
