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2. P^EONIA TENUIFOLIA. 



FINE-LEAVED P^ONY. 



THIS genus comprises plants of the large herbaceous flowery 

 perennial kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Polyandria Digynia, and ranks 

 in the natural order of Multisiliqutt. 



The characters are : that the calyx is a five-leaved perianthium, 

 small, permanent: leaflets roundish, concave, reflex, unequal in size 

 and situation : the corolla has five roundish petals, concave, nar- 

 rower at the base, spreading, very large: the stamina have numerous 

 filaments, (about three hundred) capillary, short: anthers oblong, 

 quadrangular, erect, four-celled, large: the pistillum consists of two 

 ovate germs, erect, tomentose: styles none: stigmas compressed, 

 oblong, blunt, coloured : the pericarpium has as many capsules, 

 ovate-oblong, spreading and reflex, tomentose, one-celled, one-valved, 

 opening longitudinally inwards: the seeds several, oval, shining, co- 

 loured, fastened to the opening suture. 



The species are: 1. P. qfficinalis, Common Peony; 2. P. tenuifo- 

 lia, Slender-leaved Peony. 



The first has a thick large root, constituted of several thick fleshy 

 tubers, hanging by strings to the main head, with upright round 

 smooth stems, branching half a yard or two feet in height: the 

 leaves are large, many-lobed, with oblong-oval spreading folioles: 

 the flowers large, deep red or purple, on the terminations of the 

 stalks. 



There are two principal varieties: the Common Female and Male 

 Peon}'. 



The former of these has the roots composed of several roundish 

 thick knobs or tubers, which hang below each other, fastened with 



