II. MAGNOLIACE^E. 149 



21. P^EONIA. 



The physician Paeon, according to mythology, first used this plant in medicine, and cured Pluto with it. 



Sepals 5, unequal, leafy, persistent ; petals 5 ; stamens 00 (mostly 

 changed to petals by cultivation) ; ovaries 2 5; style- 0; stigmas 

 double, persistent ; follicles many-seeded. % Rt. fasciculate. Lvs. 

 bilernate. Fls. large^ terminal^ solitary. 



1. P. OFFICINALIS. Common Pceony. St. erect, herbaceous ; lower Ivs. bipin- 

 nately divided ; Ifts. ovate-lanceolate, variously incised ; fr. downy, nearly 

 straight. The splendid pseony has long been cultivated in every part of Europe 

 and in this country. This species is said to be native of Switzerland. It is a 

 hardy perennial, requiring very little pains for its cultivation. Among its 

 varieties the double red is the most common. The white is truly beautiful. 

 The flesh-colored and the pink are. also favorites. May, Jn. 



2. P. ALBIFLORA. White-flowered Pceony. Lifts, elliptic-lanceolate, acute, 

 entire, smooth ; follicles recurved, smooth. Native of Tartary. Whole plant 

 dark, shining-green and smooth. Flowers smaller than the last, but truly ele- 

 gant and fragrant. Petals white. Calyx brown, with 3 green, sessile bracts at 

 base. Nine or ten varieties with flowers single and double, white, rose- 

 colored, &c., are now mentioned in the catalogues of American gardeners. 



3. P. ANOMALA. Jagged-leaved Siberian P&ony. Lfte. with many lanceo- 

 late segments, smooth; follicles depressed, smooth; col. bracteolate. From 

 Siberia. Distinguished by the long, narrow segments of the leaflets. Flowers 

 concave, rose-colored. Follicles usually 5. 



4. P. MOUTAN. Chinese Tree Paony. St. shrubby, Tj.; Ifts. oblong-ovate, 

 glaucous and somewhat hairy beneath, terminal one 3-lobed; ova. 5, distinct, 

 surrounded by the very large disk. From China. The woody stem branches 

 into a bush 3 4f high. Leaves large, on long stalks. Flowers very large, 

 always double in cultivation, fragrant and truly splendid. This plant is re- 

 markable for producing the largest form of disk in the vegetable kingdom. 



5. P. PAPAVERACEA. Chinese Poppy-flowered Paony. St. shrubby, 7J. ; Ifts. 

 oblong-ovate, glaucous and slightly hairy beneath, terminal one 3-lobed ; ova. 

 about 5, closely united into a globose head. From China. Resembles the 

 last in foliage, but is remarkably distinguished from all the other species by 

 its united carpels. Flowers white, with a purple centre, often single in culti- 

 vation. Other species and varieties are cultivated, rarely in this country, 

 amounting to about 150 in all. 



22. NIGELLA. 

 Lat. Niger, black ; the color of the seeds, which are used in cookery. 



Calyx of 5 sepals, colored ; corolla of 5 3-cleft petals ; styles 5 ; 

 capsules 5, follicular, convex. European herbs. Lvs. in many line- 

 ar and subulate segments. 



1. N. DAMASCENA. Fennel Flower. Fls. in a leafy involucre; anth. obtuse; 

 carpels 5, smooth, 2-celled, united as far as the ends into an ovoid-globose cap- 

 sule. Native of S. Europe. A hardy annual of the gardens, to which have 

 been applied the gentle names of " ragged lady," " devil in a bush," &c. 

 Leaves twice and thrice pinnatifid, as finely cut as those of the Fennel. Flowers 

 terminal, solitary, encompassed and over-topped by a circle of leaves divided 

 like the rest. They are often double, white or pale-blue. Jn. Sept. 



2. N. SATlVA. Nutmeg Flower. St. hairy, erect ; fls. naked ; anth. obtuse ; 

 capsules muricate. From Egypt. Rather smaller than the last. Jn. Sept. 



ORDER II. MAaNOLIACEJE MAGNOLIADS. 



Trees or shrubs. 



Lvs. alternate, coriaceous, simple, entire or lobed, never serrate. 



Stip. membranaceous, either convolute in the leaf-bud, or placed face to face. 



Fls. solitary, large and showy, mostly odorous and perfect. 



