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LIV. On the Paeonia Moutan, or Tree Pseony, and its 

 varieties. By Joseph Sabine, Esq. F. R. S. $c. 8?c. 

 Secretary. 



Read June 6, 1826. 



The varieties of the Peeonia Moutan were long known 

 from works on the plants of China and Japan, as well as from 

 their representations on Chinese porcelain and paper hang- 

 ings, before any plants of them were brought to Europe. 

 The first that was introduced into England, was imported 

 thirty-seven years since ; and though attempts to bring home 

 living plants of the species, have subsequently been made in 

 almost all the succeeding years, especially during the last 

 twenty, yet the number of varieties in our gardens were, until 

 lately, only five, and of these, two have not been hitherto 

 sufficiently distinguished from the others. That several more 

 exist in China, is well known, not only from descriptions, but 

 from authenticated representations which have been trans- 

 mitted from that country. 



My object in this Paper, is to communicate some details 

 respecting those kinds which have been hitherto cultivated 

 here, as well as to describe and give accounts of four new 

 varieties which I have seen for the first time in the present 

 season. The first of these is an imported plant ; the three 

 others have been raised from seed produced in this country. 



The introduction from China, of Moutans of any descrip- 

 tion, is attended with difficulty, for of the plants which are 



