CHAPTER XI 



VARIOUS SPECIES OF THE PEONY 



THE peony belongs to the order Ranuncula- 

 ce£E (from rana, a frog, because certain 

 members of the family thrive in swampy places) . 

 The order — sometimes called Crowfoot — em- 

 braces twenty-seven genera of plants, including 

 such familiar friends as Aconites, Anemones, 

 Buttercups, Clematis, Columbines, Fennels, Hel- 

 lebores and Larkspurs. 



There are between eighteen and twenty-five 

 species of the Genus Pseonia. Few botanists agree 

 as to the exact number or as to the status of many 

 of the varieties. This is not surprising, for in the 

 herbarium different species are often almost in- 

 distinguishable and in the garden a certain num- 

 ber vary by characters of most unequal value. 



A key to the species of the Genus PaBonia was 

 worked out by Dr. Coit in 1907, based on earlier 

 descriptions. While this key is not final it is a 

 great assistance in making classifications. In 

 view of recent information, I have made some 

 changes in this table and reprint it on page 220. 



223 



