fl. MAGNOLIACEZ. 149 
21. PHONIA. 
The physician Pon, according to mythology, first used this plant in medicine, and cured Pluto with it. 
Sepals 5, unequal, leafy, persistent ; petals 5; stamens 00 (mostly 
changed to petals by cultivation); ovaries 2—5; style 0; stigmas 
double, persistent; follicles many-seeded.—2 Rt. fasciculate. Lvs, 
biternate. F's. large, terminal, solitary. 
1, P. OFFICINALIS. Common Paony.—sSt. erect, herbaceous; lower lvs. bipin- 
nately divided; Jfts. ovate-lanceolate, variously incised; fr. downy, nearly 
straight.—T he splendid peony has long been cultivated in every part of Europe 
and in this country. This species is said to be native of Switzerland. Itisa 
hardy perennial, requiring very little pains for its cultivation. Among its 
varieties the double red is the most common. The while is truly beautiful. 
The flesh-colored and the pink are also favorites. May, Jn. 
2. P. aLBirLorRa. White-flowered Paony.—Lfis. elliptic-lanceolate, acute, 
entire, smooth; follicles recurved, smooth.—Native of Tartary. Whole plant 
dark, shining-green and smooth. Flowers smaller than the last, but truly ele- 
gant and fragrant. Petals white. Calyx brown, with 3 green, sessile bracts at 
base. Nine or ten varieties with flowers single and double, white, rose- 
colored, &c., are now mentioned in the catalogues of American gardeners. 
3. P. aANoMALA. Jagged-leaved Siberian Paony.—Lfts. with many lanceo- 
late segments, smooth; follicles depressed, smooth; cal. bracteolate—From 
Siberia. Distinguished by the long, narrow segments of the leaflets. Flowers 
concave, rose-colored. Follicles usually 5. 
4, P. Mouran. Chinese Tree Paony.—St. shrubby, 2; Ufts. oblong-ovate, 
glaucous and somewhat hairy beneath, terminal one 3-lobed ; ova. 5, distinct, 
surrounded by the very large disk—From China. The woody stem branches 
into a bush 3—4f high. Leaves large, on long stalks. Flowers very large, 
always double in cultivation, fragrant and truly splendid. This plant is re- 
markable for producing the largest form of disk in the vegetable kingdom. 
5. P. PAPAVERACEA. Chinese Poppy-flowered Paony.—St. shrubby, 2; Ufts. 
oblong-ovate, glaucous and slightly hairy beneath, terminal one 3-lobed; ova. 
about 5, closely united into a globose head—From China. Resembles the 
last in foliage, but is remarkably distinguished from all the other species by 
its united carpels. Flowers white, with a purple centre, often single in culti- 
vation. Other species and varieties are cultivated, rarely in this country, 
amounting to about 150 in all. 
22. NIGELLA. 
Lat. Niger, black; the color of the seeds; which are used in cookery. 
Calyx of 5 sepals, colored ; corolla of 5 3-cleft petals; styles 5; 
capsules 5, follicular, convex.—@ European herbs. Lvs. in many line- 
ar and subulate segments. 
1. N. DamascEna. Fennel Flower.—Fils. in a leafy involucre; anth. obtuse; 
carpels 5, smooth, 2-celled, united as far as the ends into an ovoid-globose cap- 
sule-—Native of S. Europe. A hardy annual of the gardens, to which have 
been applied the gentle names of “tagged lady,” “devil in a bush,” &c. 
Leaves twice and thrice pinnatifid, as finely cut as those of the Fennel. Flowers 
terminal, solitary, encompassed and over-topped by a circle of leaves divided 
like the rest. They are often double, white or pale-blue. Jn.—Sept. 
2. N. sativa. Nutmeg Flower.—St. hairy, erect ; jis. naked; anth. obtuse ; 
capsules muricate——From Egypt. Rather smaller than the last. Jn—Sept. 
Orver II MAGNOLIACE Atj—Macnotups. 
Trees or shrubs. | . : 
Lvs. alternate, coriaceous, simple, entire or lobed, never serrate. 
. membranaceous, either convolute in the leaf-bud, or placed face te face. 
Fis. solitary, large and showy, mostly odorous and perfect. 
