Ran uncti lace& P&onia. 



21 



varieties are very striking and handsome, though the single 

 ones are preferred by some growers. All are very effective 

 amongst shrubs and on the margins of plantations. 



1. P. Moutdn (figs. 17 and 18). A native of China, intro- 

 duced towards the end of last century, The only shrubby 

 species in cultivation, and the parent of all the beautiful 

 varieties called Tree Paeonies. There are double and single 

 white, pink, crimson, purple, and striped varieties. This is a 

 somewhat tender plant, requiring slight protection in Spring. 



2. P. officinalis. From this species have sprung many of 

 the most familiar crimson, red, and a few white varieties. It 

 is usually a taller plant than P. albifldra, which it closely re- 

 sembles in some of its forms. The leaves are not so equally 

 lobed as in the latter, and the carpels are hairy. South of 

 Europe and temperate Asia. 



3. P. albiflora (fig. 1 9), syn. P. edulis and P. Sinensis. A 

 native of China and Siberia, normally white-flowered. The 



Fig, 19. Paeonia albiflora. (J nat. size.) 



Fig. 20. Pasonia tenuifolia. (J nat. size.) 



carpels are smooth, and recurved from the base. It is highly 

 fragrant, its perfume having been compared to that of the rose. 

 Under cultivation it has given birth to pink, crimson, and flesh- 

 coloured varieties. This, however, may be ascribed to cross- 

 fertilisation with other species. 



