286 On the herbaceous P(Bonies, 



P. albiflora var. uniflora. — Of a very erect habit, with single 

 white flowers, similar to the vestahs: sometimes two flowers ap- 

 pear on a branch. This is also a native of Siberia, and is in 

 beauty from the 8th to the 16th of June. Rather more attrac- 

 tive than the two last named. 



P. albiflora var. tartarica. — One of the prettiest of the single 

 flowered varieties. The blossoms have from ten to fifteen petals 

 each, are often in clusters of from two to six on a branch, and of 

 a pale pink or flesh color; the habit of the plant, like the uni- 

 flora, is erect and tall, and the flowers have a very showy ap- 

 pearance, from their great number. A native of Siberia, and 

 blossoms from the 8th to the 16th of June. It should be in 

 every collection of any extent. 



P. albiflora var. Candida. — With flesh colored flowers of about 

 eight petals, and similar in character to the vestalis: it is a native 

 of Siberia, and in perfection at the same time as the latter variety. 

 Of no great beauty. 



P. albiflora var. Whitleji. — A splendid variety, with very 

 large double flowers, of a creamy pink when they first expand, 

 afterwards becoming white: the outer row of petals is large, as 

 in the old double red, but the inner ones are smaller, and the 

 flower assumes a more conical shape. It is already in all choice 

 collections, but it is yet new to most gardens. The flowers 

 are produced on tall erect stems, which, however, become pen- 

 dant, when they expand, from their great weight. It is a native 

 of China, from whence it was introduced to England, along with 

 the Humei and fragrans, about 1784. Probably this and aU the 

 following varieties of albiflora were raised from seed by the Chi- 

 nese. In perfection from the 12th to the 25th of June. It is 

 one of the most beantiful and desirable in a garden. 



P. albiflora var. Humei. — With very large, double, rose col- 

 ored, blossoms, and the same habit as the Whitle/i; it flowers 

 at the same period, and was introduced from China. Equally 

 elegant with the Whitley i. 



P. albiflora var. fragrans. — Another handsome variety, said to 

 possess considerable fragrance, but in so slight a degree as scarce- 

 ly to deserve the name. Like the whole tribe of pa^onies, -and, 

 indeed, most of the iJanunculaceae, to which they belong, they 

 are narcotic in a high degree, and by frequent smelling of this 

 variety, what odor there is soon becomes disagreeable. At a 

 distance it is not unpleasant. This variety flowers later than the 

 Whitleji, coming into bloom just as that variety is going out, 

 and thus keeping up the display for upwards of a month: the 

 height of their flowering is about the 30lh of June, though we 

 have frequently seen fine flowers cut as late as the middle of 

 July. Habit the same as the Whitleji, of rather taller growth, 

 with erect stems: flowers large and double, of a deep rose color. 



