20 RANUNCULACE.E. 



damaged in the bud late in spring. They are very easily 

 excited into growth ; and for this reason, where frosts prevail 

 up till a late period in spring, the position selected for them 

 should be somewhat shaded and as dry as possible. 



P. albiflora ( White-flowe7'ed P.) — This species is the parent 

 of a few useful showy varieties. They are mostly about 2 feet 

 high, and are distinguishable also by the rather bold, smooth, 

 three-parted leaves, the segments of which are deeply cut into 

 oval lance-shaped lobes. Native of Siberia. A few of the best 

 varieties are: — fragrans^ with rose -scented flowers; Humei, 

 double crimson; Pottsii, crimson, and rather taller than the 

 standard ; Reevesii^ double pink ; and Whitleji, double white. 



P. decora {Comely P.) — In this species the leaves are three- 

 parted, with oblong bluntish lobes, which are downy on the 

 under side. The varieties are few, and all are purple-flowered. 

 Native of the Levant. 



P. Moutan (" Tree Pceony^'). — Of this species there are many 

 striking and beautiful varieties in cultivation. All are easily 

 distinguished from the herbaceous species and varieties by their 

 shrubby stems. The flowers are of immense size and generally 

 splendid colour. Where the climate is favourable for the 

 development of their flowers out of doors, they produce a mag- 

 nificent effect. They are very ornamental, also, in the cool 

 conservatory in spring, either planted out or in pots, and are 

 easily forced for the purpose of decorating rooms and plant- 

 houses. The following are a few of the best : — albida-pkno, 

 double-white ; A?i?ieski, pink ; carnea-pleiw^ double pink ; pieta, 

 variously striped in different shades of pink ; rosea-ple?io, double 

 rose ; and salmonea, pale salmon. 



P. officinalis {Officmal P.) — This species is near in character 

 to P. albiflora, but is distinguishable in most of its varieties by 

 rather taller growth and less equally-lobed leaves. It has been 

 productive of many very showy varieties of greater or less dis- 

 tinctness. Native of many parts of the south of Europe, and 

 widely spread over central Asia, and also a naturalised sub- 

 ject of our own flora, having been found, in the variety named 

 corallma, in the Steep Holme Island, in the Severn. The 

 following are a few of the best varieties : — a7iemoniflora, double 

 red; attreo-iimbata, a novel sort, of recent introduction, the 

 flowers large, deep crimson, fashioned like a gigantic ane- 

 mone in the centre, and the outer petals margined with yellow ; 

 carnescens, large pinkish white ; nibra, deep red ; Sabini, deep 

 crimson. 



P. paradoxa {Purple P.) — The leaves in this species are 

 three-parted, and much cut into many bluntish lobes with wavy 



