P^ONIA PANICUM. 



193 



with 6 divisions, the 3 interior ones 

 larger than the others, entire or 

 notched; the outer one ending in a 

 leafy point. Leaves, alternate, ter- 

 nate, or biternate, with irregular 

 division, plane or concave, oval- 

 lanceolate, of a deep glistening green 

 on the upper side ; stems often tinged 

 with violet, slightly branching above. 

 There are many varieties of this 



species. China. The same positions 



and treatment as for P. albiflora. 



Paeonia lobata (Loled P.) A com- 

 pact kind, 20 in. to 2 ft. high. Flowers, 

 in May ; deep rose, handsome. Leaves, 

 numerous ; segments nearly linear, 

 smooth, decurrent, pinnate, three- 

 lobed at the point. Seed-vessels 

 woolly, somewhat erect. Native of 



Spain and Portugal. Treatment 



the same as for P. albiflora. 



Pseonia officinalis (Officinal Pceony). 

 A showy and popular kind ; 1 to 

 3 ft. high. Flowers, in early summer ; 

 red or crimson ; carpels recurved, 

 tomentose. Leaves, composed of seve- 

 ral unequal lobes, which are cut into 

 various segments, hairy beneath ; 

 stems unevenly 6- or 7-grooved. 

 There are several varieties, one (P. 

 corallina), considered as a species by 

 some, is naturalized in the rocky 

 clefts of the " Steep Holme" Island in 

 the Severn. Native of many parts of 



Europe. The same positions and 



treatment as for P. albiflora. 



Paeonia tenuifolia (Fine - leaved 

 Pceony}. Very distinct in aspect, from 

 its fine thin leaflets ; 12 to 18 in. high. 

 Flowers, in early summer ; fine dark 

 red, nestling among the finely-divided 

 upper leaves ; petals 8, oval, spread- 

 ing ; carpels tomentose, spreading. 

 Leaves, alternate, divided into narrow 

 many-parted leaflets, smooth, on round 

 stalks, channelled above; stems round, 

 obscurely grooved, smooth, naked at 

 the bottom. The double form is the 

 one most frequently seen in gardens. 



Siberia and Tauria.- The same 



positions and treatment as for P. albi- 

 flora. 



Pancratium illyricum (Illyrian P.) 

 A fine hardy bulbous perennial ; 

 16 in. to 2 ft. high. Flowers, in 

 summer; very fragrant, of a dull 

 white colour, with a greenish - yel- 

 low tube, numerous, 6 to 12 issuing 

 from a 2-valved spathe at the top 

 of the stem. Leaves, oblong, ribbon- 

 shaped, glaucous. Bulb, very large, 

 pear - shaped, with an elongated 

 neck, 10 in. or 1 ft. long, and 

 covered with numerous, close, stri- 

 ated, glistening, brownish- black coats. 



Southern Europe. Borders, in deep 



sandy loam. Division in autumn; 

 replanting immediately. 



Panicum altissimum (Tall P.) 

 Resembles P. virgatum, and though of 

 more elegant habit, is often con- 

 founded with it ; 20 in. to 6^ ft. high, 

 according to the climate, soil, etc. 

 Flowers, from late in summer until the 

 first frosts, in large branching pani- 

 cles, which, as they become old, 

 change to a dark red or maroon hue. 

 Leaves, linear, arching, with finely- 

 toothed edges. West Indies, Tropical 

 America, and West Coast of Africa. 

 Borders, groiips, or beds of peren- 

 nials, or isolated near the edges of 

 shrubberies, etc., in deep rich soil, 

 and in sunny positions. Division in 

 spring, or from seed; the former 

 method is preferable. 



Panicum bulbosum (Bulbous P.) 

 An elegant grass; 3 to 4 ft. high. 

 Flowers, in summer ; panicle com- 

 pound, oblong, about a foot long, com- 

 posed of numerous, alternate, or op- 

 posite, erect, somewhat adpressed, 

 spikelets ^ in. long. Leaves, linear, 

 pointed, flat, striated, smooth on the 

 outside, hairy within, rough at the 

 edges ; sheaths striated, very smooth. 

 Root, bulbous, with thickish fibres. 

 There is a variety with pubescent 

 



