37 



P^ONIA MOUTAN. (Var. rosea plena.) 



(Chinese Pceony. Rose-coloured double variety.') 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



P0LYANDK.IA PENTAGYNIA. RANUNCULACE^E. (JuSS.) 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Pasonia. (Lin.) Calyx 5-sepalus, foliaceus, insequalis. Petala 5-10, suborbiculata. Stamina 

 innumera. Discus camosus, ovaria cingens. Carpella 2-5, grossa, stigmatibus bilamellatis crassis 

 instructa, . in folliculos capsulares conversa. Semina subglobosa, nitida. Radices fasciculatse. 

 Folia caulina biternatim secta. Flores ampli, albi aut purpurascentes. D. C. Syst. i. p. 386, 

 prod. 65. 



Calyx five-sepaled, leafy, unequal. Petals from five to ten, roundish. Stamens innume- 

 rable Disc fleshy, surrounding the ovary. Carpels from two to five, thick, furnished with a 

 two-plated thick stigma, turning into capsular follicles. Seeds roundish, shining. Roots fasci- 

 culate. Stem leaves divided biternately. Flowers large, white or purple. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



P. Moutan. Caule fruticoso ; foliorum segmentis ovali-oblongis, subtus glaucis ; carpellis 

 villosis, 5. Stem shrubby ; segments of the leaves oval-oblong, underneath glaucous. Carpels 

 villous, five. 



Pseonia Moutan. Sims' Bot. Mag. t. 1154. 



Anderson, Trans. Lin. Soc. vol. xii. p. 252. 



Rosea floribus subplenis, roseis, segmentis apice fissuris obtusissimis. Bot. Repos. t. 373. 

 D. C. 



Flowers nearly double, rose colour, segments very obtuse, divided at the apex. 



This is one of the varieties of the species Moutan, introduced about the year 

 1794, and certainly a very splendid one. It was sent to W. H. Osbom, Esq., 

 of Perry, near Birmingham, from the valuable and extensive collection of Earl 

 Mountnorris. It flowered in unusual perfection last year in Mr. Osborn's col- 

 lection, at which time our drawing was taken. 



All the Moutans are hardy shrubs, which in a conservatory expand their 

 blossoms in April and continue in bloom until the middle of May. If in the 

 open border, they open in May and continue till June, and in consequence of 

 their blooming early they ought to be planted in a sheltered situation, or have 



