NAT. ORDER 
PapaveracecB. 
P^ONIA PEREGRINA. PEONY OF THE ALPS. 
Class XIII. PoLYANDRiA. Order II. Digynia. 
Gen. Char. Calyx five-leaved. Petals five. Styles none. Cap- 
sules many-seeded. 
Spe. Char. Leaves double, pinnate, sub-lobed. Leaflets oblong, 
veined underneath. 
The male peony is furnished with long thick roots, which are 
fleshy and of a bright yellow color ; the stalks are upright, single, 
streaked with red, and rises from two to four feet in height; the 
leaves are of a dark green, veined, and stand in pairs upon short 
footstalks ; the Jlowers are single and of a beautiful red color. The 
female frequently rises to the height of six feet ; the leaves of which 
are pale and narrow; the jlowers are double and of a deep red; the 
roots are very irregular, composed of several tuberous pieces, hang- 
ing by rough filaments from one head. It is a native of the Alps, 
where it is found growing in its wild state, in large quantities, pro- 
ducing flowers from June till October, 
This species of 'peony was very anciently considered as a 
prominent article in the Materia Medica. Galen mentions many 
very remarkable cures made by the use of this plant, but from the 
accounts given by modern physicians of distinction, we are led to 
believe it possesses little, if any, medicinal properties, that would 
entitle it to a place in the Materia Medica, excepting its narcotic 
power. Galen is probably the author of the anodine necklace, which 
was composed of this plant, and so long famous for its remarkable 
