PART III 



DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SHRUBS 



Numbers in parenthesis in the keys and descriptions which follow refer 

 to the figures. Bracketed information refers to methods of propagation. 



Paebnia. The Peonies form one of the most popular groups of plants. 

 They are almost entirely large-ilowered herbaceous perennials, though 

 one species is shrubby and, therefore, to be included in our book. This is 

 called Tkee Peonv Figs. (1) and (2) — Paeonia Moutdn, — growing to the 



Fig. 1. — Tree Peony. 



Fig. 2. —Tree Peony. 



height of 3 to 8 feet with large alternate smooth pale-colored feather-divided 

 (pinnate) leaves with irregularly cut and notched blades, as shown in the 

 illustrations. The flowers are six or more inches broad, often double 

 and of many colors — white, pink, rose, sometimes blotched and striped. 

 One variety of this, the Poppy Peony — papaverJicea, — is white with a 

 dark red center and has thin poppy-like petals. The fruit in the single 



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