256 Mr. Anderson's Monograph of the Genus Pcconia. 



2. P;eonia albiflora. 



P. caule subtrifloro herbaceo, foliolis ovato-laiiceolatis conflu-' 

 entibus laciniatis, germinibus giabris, floribus erectis. 



P. albiflora. Pall. Ross. v. ii. jj. 92. t. 84. JVilld. Sp. PI. v. ii. 

 p. 1222. Hart. Kczc;. v. iii. p. 316. Rees's Cycl. 



P. lacteoflore, foliisutrinque viridantibus et splendentibus. Gme- 

 I'm in A?nman. Ruth. 77- n. 103. 



P. fructibus tribus giabris. Gmelin Sib. v. iv. p. 184. 



Badicis tulera fusiformia, fusca, aggregata. Planta omniiio glaberrima, Caiilis bi- trij)c- 

 dalis et ultra, angiilosus, flexuosus, in duos aut tres peclunculos versus apicem de- 

 sinens, interdum simplex, praecipue apud axillas (petiolumque) rubescens. Folia 

 biteriiata, foliola modo lobata, seu incisa, decurrentia, hiiic confluentia, laiiceokta, 

 latitudine et figura, secundum varietates, valde diversa, acuminata, subtus nitidissi- 

 nie viridia, supra saturatiora, venis atro-rubeutibus protuberantibus, maiginibus scabra. 

 BracteijB nonnuUae foliacea:, inferiores partitae, superiores in calycis foliola orbiculata 

 sensim transeuntes. Corolla variat petalis S — 14, colore vario a niveo ad roseum, sub- 

 incisis, erosis, plicatulis, interioribus angustatis. Stamina splendide aurea. Alemlra- 

 na vere perigyyia longior quam in caeteris speciebus herbaceis, lobata seu lacera. Ger- 

 mina 3 — 5, primum erecta demum recurvato-patentia ; stigmata obtusiuscula reflexa. 

 Floret fine Mail ad finem Junii. 



We had almost persuaded ourselves that Besler's two figures iu 

 Hort. Ei/st. Plant. Vern. ordo vi. no. 12 & 13, belonged to tliis spe- 

 cies; — but what can we say for an author's accuracy, who deli- 

 neates P. officinalis with a divided stem supporting two flowers.'' 



Native of a vast range of latitude, from the northern regions of 

 Siberia down to the dominions of China. Pallas found it in Mon- 

 gol Tartary, and on the borders of Lake Baical. Its roots, he 

 says, are used as an article of food by the Tartars, and the seeds 

 reduced to powder mixed with their tea. Discovered also on 

 Mount Caucasus, and in Georgia on grassy hills. 



In proportion to the diversity of climate it is found to vary in 

 form and stature. We have in vain endeavoured to discover any 



fixed 



