28 POLYANDRIA— PENTAGYNIA. Paeonia. 



Shrub. June, July. 



In size and habit like C. Helianthemum, but essentially distinct, 

 though not known in any other part of the world than the places 

 above specified. The stems are hoary with fine, close-pressed 

 hairs. Leaves always revolute ; convex and green on the up- 

 per side, covered with starry hairs, not entangled with each 

 other ; white and densely downy, with similar but entangled 

 hairs, beneath ; the mid-rib very prominent. Siipulas linear- 

 lanceolate, rather acute than blunt, most hairy at the margin, 

 not at all downy. Cal. membranous, with red ribs bearing a 

 very few hairs here and there, the intermediate spaces quite 

 smooth and naked ; the 2 outer leaves linear, channelled, 

 fringed. Pet. white, sometimes crenate ; their claws yellow. 

 Caps, with 3 slight ])artitions. 



Linnaeus has very incautiously confounded this and C. marifoUus 

 in his Mantissa 2. 145, under the name of C. angUcus. C. apen- 

 nintis more nearly resembles our polifoHus ; but differs in its 

 simple pubescence, and hoary calyx without hairs on the ribs. 



POLYANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 

 270. P.EONIA. Piony. 



Linn. Gen.273. Juss. 234. Tourn. t. 146. Lam.t.48\. Geertn. 

 t. ()5. 



Nat. Ord. MultisiliqucB. Linn. 26. Ranunculacece. Juss. 61. 



Cal. inferior, of 5 roundish, concave, reflexed, unequal, per- 

 manent leaves. Pet. 5, roundish, concave, spreading, 

 contracted at the base, larger than the calyx. Filam. 

 very numerous, capillary, much shorter than the corolla. 

 Anth. terminal, erect, oblong, quadrangular, of 4 cells. 

 Germ, from 2 to 4, 5, or more, sessile, ovate, downy. 

 Styles none. Stigmas oblong, curved, compressed, ob- 

 tuse, coloured. Capsules {follicles) as many as the ger- 

 mens, ovate-oblong, spreading widely, coriaceous, burst- 

 ing along the inner side. Seeds numerous, oval, polish- 

 ed, ranged along the edges of the follicle. 



Mostly herbaceous, with fleshy perennial roots. Leaves 

 alternate, once or twice ternate, entire or cut. Fl. soli- 

 tary, large, stalked, crimson or white, often double. Ger- 

 mens usually multiplied by culture. Abortive seeds co- 

 loured. 



