By Joseph Sabine, Esq. 279 



those which are placed next the centre are the longest ; 

 this causes, as it were, a pyramidal elongation of the in- 

 terior of the flower, having an hollow in the centre, sur- 

 rounded by the longer internal petals. The scent of the 

 flower is very agreeable, being much like that of the Rose. 

 It is the latest of all the tribe in flowering, not opening till 

 the end of J une. The engraving of the plant by Mr. Hooker, 

 which has been executed by order of the Council of the So- 

 ciety, is a very accurate representation of it. 



The last plant I have to record is Sir Abraham Hume s 

 Double Chinese Pceony, ( P. albiflora Humei,) which was 

 imported in 1810 by Captain Welstead from China, and 

 by him presented to Sir Abraham Hume, in whose gar- 

 den, at Wormleybury, it has flowered for the last three 

 years. Although it has not the advantage of the sweet 

 scent of the Kew plant, yet it has a very pleasant odour when 

 first gathered. It rises from the ground at the same time 

 as the single varieties of P. albiflora, growing to the height 

 of about three feet, with leaves much longer and broader 

 and more rugose than any other of the species, the flower- 

 stalks bearing cymes like the rest. The flower-bud is very 

 thick and large, and as it swells, it seems as if a dingy 

 yellow had been infused into the red of that part of the 

 back of the petals which is in sight, whilst some dark marks 

 extending longitudinally over them, give an appearance as 

 if the flower would be striped. 



The flowers open in the middle of June as large as those of 

 the Double-red officinal, exactly agreeing in colour with the 

 sweet-scented variety, but of double the size. It is so full that 

 the outside petals are not seen, the inside ones are of different 



vol. ii. P p 



