MYTHOLOGY, AND HISTORY OF THE PEONY 



Viennese Manuscript of Dioscorides, painted and 

 written in Byzantium for the Princess Anicia 

 Juliana in the early part of the Sixth Century, 

 contains a number of brush drawings of plants 

 and flowers, some of which closely resemble our 

 specimens of to-day. Unfortunately, the illus- 

 trations of the two peonies mentioned in the text 

 — P^eonia arren [P. corallina] and P^eonia theleia 

 [P. officinalis] are missing. The lifelike repre- 

 sentation of his favourite flower was evidently too 

 great a temptation for some peony lover to resist. 



Herbaceous Peony History 

 in china and japan 



In China and Japan the popularity of the 

 herbaceous peony was somewhat overshadowed 

 by that of the tree peony, but the former kind 

 has long had a distinct recognition in both coun- 

 tries. In China it was called " Sho Yo " mean- 

 ing " most beautiful," which bespoke a consider- 

 able appreciation on its own account, even though 

 the tree peony was ranked as the King of Flowers. 

 It served as a sort of Forget-me-not which one 

 friend bestowed upon another on separation. A 

 Sho Yo plant was also presented for a friendly 



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