II. MAGNOLIACE^E. 149 



21. P^EONIA. 



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



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

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

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

 biter nate. Fls. large, terminal, solitary. 



1. P. OFFICJNALIS. Common P&ony. St. erect, herbaceous; lower Ivs. bipin- 

 nately divided; Z/&. ovate-lanceolate, variously incised; Jr. downy, nearly 

 straight. The splendid peeony 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 doubk 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 Paony. Lfts. 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&onij. Lfts. 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, 1|.; Ifts. oblong-ovate, 

 glaucous and somewhat hairy beneath, terminal one 3-lobea ; 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 Pceony. St. shrubby, Tj. ; Ifts 

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

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

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

 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. SATIVA. Nutmeg Flower. St. hairy, erect ; fls. naked; anth. obtuse 

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



ORDER II. MAGNOLIACE^ MAGNOLIADS. 



Trees or shrubs. 



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



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



Fls. soliUjy, large and showy, mostly odoroua and perfect. 



