P^ONIA 



THE BULB BOOK 



P^-ONIA 



latter being a woody species like 

 Moutan and lutea. It is possible, 

 however, in the course of time that 

 these varieties will come under the 

 sway of ' the ubiquitous hybridist, 

 and new shades of colour may be 

 anticipated. 



Amongst natural or wild species of 

 Pseonia the following may be noted : — 



P. alblflora {P. edvlis). — A Siberian 

 species, 2 to 3 ft. high, with fragrant 

 white or pinkish flowers in May and 

 June. 



There are numerous varieties, 

 amongst the best being fragrans, 

 sinensis, or Humei, and atarica, 

 unijlora, vestalis, Whitleyi, etc. (Bot. 

 Reg. tt. 42, 485, 630; Bot. Mag. 

 tt. 1768, 1756). 



P. anomala (P. Fischeri). — A native 

 of N. Europe, Siberia, etc., 2 to 

 3 ft. high, the leaves being cut into 

 thirty to forty segments. The bright 

 crimson flowers are about 4 ins. 

 across. {Bot. Mag. t. 1754.) 



P. arletina, from South Europe, 

 grows 2 to 3 ft. high, and has deep 

 red flowers about 4 ins. across, the 

 leaves being downy beneath {Bot. 

 Reg. t. 819). 



P. Bakerl. — ^A distinct species 

 about 2 ft. high, with red flexuose 

 stems, twice-ternate leaves, and deep 

 rose flowers over 4 ins. across. 



p. Barri. — A species described by 

 Mr Lynch of Cambridge as having 

 leaflets about five times as long as 

 broad, and brilliant red flowers. It 

 is figured in the Bot. Mag. t. 2664, 

 and erroneously called B. Russi. 



P Broterl. — A native of Spain and 

 Portugal, about 2 ft; high, having 

 reddish stems, smooth ovate leaflets, 

 and rosy-red or whitish flowers. 



P. Brownl. — A rare North American 

 species, having ternately divided 

 leaves and dull red flowers, paler on 

 the margins and about 1 in. across 

 {Bot. Reg. 1839, t. 30). 



P. Cambessedesl. — A native of the 

 Balearic Isles and Corsica, with 

 ternate leaves deeply cut into oblong 

 acute segments, purple beneath. The 

 flowers are solitary, deep rosy-pink, 

 and about 3j ins. across. {Bot. Mag. 

 t. 8061.) 



P. coralllna. — A native of South 

 Europe to Asia Minor, 2 to 3 ft. 

 high, with red-veined, smooth, deep- 

 green leaves, and crimson or rose-red 

 flowers, having six to eight rounded 

 petals 2 to 3 ins. long. 



P. coriacea. — This species, with 

 large bright crimson flowers, comes 

 from S. Spain and N. Africa, and has 

 somewhat leathery leaves cut into 

 broadly ovate segments. 



P. decora. — ^A Servian species, with 

 much-divided leaves and crimson 

 flowers with six to eight petals. The 

 variety Palassi has narrow oblong 

 leaves and purple flowers ; elatior has 

 broader leaves, and alha has satin 

 white flowers flushed with pink. 



P. Smodi. — A fine Himalayan 

 species, 2 to 3 ft. high, with white 

 flowers 3 to 4 ins. across {Bot. Mag. 

 t. 5719 ; Garden, 1894, i. 946). This 

 is best grown in warm sheltered 

 spots. 



P. humllls. — A French and Spanish 

 species, 1^- to 2 ft. high, with finely 

 divided leaves and bright red flowers 

 {Bot. Mag. t. 1422). P. microcarpa 

 is closely related. 



P. macrophylla. — A rare Caucasian 

 species of the corallina group, and 

 closly related to P. Wittmanniana. 

 It has large, biternate, shining, green 

 leaves and very large yellowish- white 

 flowers. 



P. laiokosewitschi. — A Caucasian 

 Pseony of vigorous habit, having 

 biternate leaves cut into broadly 

 oblong segments with reddish veins 

 and edges. The flowers are yellow, 

 4 to 5 ins. across, with deeper yellow 

 stamens and purple stigmas. {Bot. 



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