The Peony. 257 



P.EONIA— THE PEONY. 



K raral Order, Ranunculacese ; Linn se an System, Poly andria, Di-Pentagynia. 

 Generic Distinctions : — Calyx of five uuequal permanent sepals ; petals, 

 from five to ten, roundish ; stamens, numerous ; disc, fleshy, encircling 

 the ovaries; carpels, from two to five, with thick bilamellate stigmas ; 

 deeds, numerous, somewhat globose and shiniug. 



p Russi. — Carpels, generally two; pilose, recurved; segments of the 

 leaves elliptic, entire, somewhat pubescent beneath. — Plate 35. 



This is a very ornamental genus, and varieties of several 

 species are among the most commonly cultivated plants. 

 The name, Paeonia, is derived from Pason, a Greek physician, 

 who is said first to have used the plant in curing Pluto of a 

 wound inflicted by Hercules. The Peonies are both shrubby 

 and herbaceous. The former kind are varieties of the Tree 

 Peony, P» Moutan, a native of China. Of the latter, there 

 are several species and numerous varieties, which are great 

 favorites, from the easiness of their culture, their hardiness, 

 and their showy flowers. Their roots are composed of several 

 tubers, somewhat like carrots — and, by separating these, their 

 propagation is easily effected. The roots of one species, 

 P. edulis, are eaten by the Siberians, who boil them in their 

 soup. The most common Peony of the gardens is P. officinalis, 

 which has been in cultivation in England for three hundred 

 years. Its varieties are very numerous, having single, double, 

 and semi-double flowers, of various shades, from white to 

 crimson, and they are all easily propagated. It is a native of 

 several parts of Europe. 



The species engraved, is one of the rarer sorts. It is a 

 native of Sicily, and has been cultivated since about 1820. 

 Its flower is single, and of a bright crimson. The flowers are 

 solitary, but there are usually several stems, arising from the 

 same root. The leaves are usually whitish underneath. It is 

 increased, like other species, by parting the roots, and by the 

 seeds, and grows best in an open situation in a rich loamy 



soil. 

 Vol. I.— -17. 



