304 BRECK'S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



with flesh-colored ; P. albicans, with white flowers ; and 

 many others. This class of Peonies flower the last of 

 May and the first of June. 



P. tenuifolia, or Fennel-leaved, with fine leaves like fen- 

 nel ; in flower the first of May ; it is of a deep-crimson 

 color, and, when in bud, very beautiful. There is a dou- 

 ble variety of this sort. 



P, albiflora, The White-flowered or Chinese Peony, 

 is the parent of many fine varieties, such as P. Sibirica 

 and P. Whitleyi, with white flowers ; P. Tartarica, flesh- 

 colored ; P. Humei, lilac-red ; P. JReevesii, lilac-rose ; P. 

 Pottsii, crimson, all old varieties. After these come a 

 succession of splendid sorts, viz. : P. prolifera tricolor ; 

 flowers in clusters, ground petals pure white, with a glo- 

 bular mass of small yellow petals in the center with the 

 crimson stigmas protruding ; P. f estiva, large, full, double 

 pure white flowers, delicately striped or touched with pur- 

 ple ; P. sulphured, with large petals of a light sulphur 

 color ; JDuchesse de Nemours^ with a multitude of other 

 beautiful varieties. 



P. paradoxa* A purplish-red species from the south 

 of Europe, which has produced several varieties, such as 

 P. Grevillei, P. compacta, P. fimbriata, etc. P. decora 

 and P. corallina, are species with large, single, purplish- 

 red and red flowers. 



P, Mo lit an, or the Tree Peony and its varieties, are 

 magnificent plants, with flowers of various shades of red, 

 lilac, light and dark-purple, and white, measuring from 

 six to eight inches in diameter ; all are of easy culture, 

 very hardy, requiring but little protection. The variety 

 Baiiksii) is one of the most common kinds. I have had 

 a plant of this, with from seventy to eighty flowers upon 

 it at one time, presenting a splendid sight ; the flowers 

 vary on the same bush, some of them will be very double, 



