Paeonia
(the old Greek name used by Theophrastus, and said to be so named after the physician Paeon, who was the first to employ the plant medicinally). Paeony, Peony, or Piony. ORD. Ranunculaceae. A well-known genus of mostly hardy herbs, with a root-like, perennial caudex, or a branched, more or less woody stem; they are natives of Europe or temperate Asia, North-west America, and China. Flowers purple, white, or red, showy; sepals five, herbaceous, persistent; petals five to ten, conspicuous, broad, not pitted. Carpels two to five; follicles dehiscent seeds large, with fleshy albumen. Leaves alternate, ample, pinnately dissected or decompound. Mr. Baker, in the opening remarks of his admirable synopsis of the genus, which appeared in the "Gardeners' Chronicle" for 1884, says: "To-day we know about two dozen that may be considered as botanical species or sub-species. Under each of these, if brought into cultivation, there is scope for a large number of varieties, distinct from a horticultural point of view. Probably, each would vary widely in the colouring of the flower. In P. Moutan, P. albiflora, and P. officinalis, which are the best known, there is red in every shade, from crimson graduating down to pink, and also pure white. Doubling may take place in any species to a greater or lesser extent by petalody of the very numerous stamens. In flowers so large as Paeonies, these changes are very conspicuous. The following is the best classification and enumeration of the forms which I am able to give; but Paeonia, like its neighbours, Aquilegia, Aconitum, and Delphinium, is what botanists call a critical genus, and the leading specific types are linked together by many intermediate connecting stages:
Sub-genus I. Shrubby.
Disk enveloping the base of the carpels.
P. Moutan.
Sub-genus II. Herbaceous.
Disk not produced to envelop the base of the carpels.
GROUP I. Follicles glabrous.
P. albiflora, P. Brownii, P. Cambessedesii, P. coriacea, P. humilis, P. leiocarpa, P. microcarpa, P. obovata, P. Wittmanniana.
GROUP II. Follicles tomentose, erect or slightly spreading.
P. anomala, P. Emodi, P. lobata, P. mollis, P. officinalis, P. paradoxa, P. peregrina, P. tenuifolia.
GROUP III. Follicles tomentose, spreading stellately when mature.
P. arietina, P. Broteri, P. corallina, P. cretica, P. decora, P. Russi, P. triternata (P. daurica)."
All the species described here may be looked upon as hardy in Britain. In the South of England, P. Moutan is apt to commence growth too early, and its young shoots are frequently damaged by frosts. To obviate this, light shelter, such as that afforded by a mat, &c., is necessary, during frosty weather, in spring. In some places in the north of England, no shelter is needed. The species described below are those which are, or have been, grown in this country; the names of the principal varieties are appended. Cultivation. There are two distinct sections of Paeonies in general cultivation, both of which are exceedingly ornamental and useful for outdoor garden decoration. The Moutan, or Tree, Paeony is a sub-shrubby plant, and all the numerous varieties belonging to it are classed under its name. The other section is that of the Herbaceous Paeony, the representatives of which annually form flower-stems that also die down each year. Paeonies of any sort prefer a rich, deep soil, which should be well trenched previous to planting, and have some rotten manure incorporated. A top-dressing of the latter should also be given, and manure-water in summer is beneficial when growth is being made. Herbaceous varieties succeed in almost any position, and, when in flower, are very effective and showy subjects wherever employed. On this account, they are specially recommended for the front part of large shrubberies and plantations, and for wide, mixed borders; they may also be planted in beds by themselves, preferably in positions where an effect from a distance is that desired. Tree, or Moutan, Paeonies very frequently suffer outside from the effects of spring frosts on the tender shoots. By affording too much shelter during winter, this result has, at times, been encouraged by the plants being rendered more tender than they otherwise would be. Tree Paeonies do not succeed, or flower so well, in this country as on the Continent; the hotter summers of the latter being more favourable to their proper ripening, and early spring frosts being less destructive. A partially-sheltered situation should be selected for the plants of this section, on a lawn where some temporary covering can be used in spring. A mulching of manure over the surface soil in summer is of great help, by affording nutriment, and also preventing evaporation. Tree Paeonies may also be grown in pots for flowering under glass early in the season; they may be gradually forced to flower in February; but this renders them useless for a similar purpose for some two or three years afterwards. To maintain an annual exhibition indoors, three sets of plants should therefore be provided, one being introduced every third year. In pots, it is almost impossible to provide a too rich soil.
Propagation of herbaceous Paeonies is effected by division; but this should not be practised more than is really necessary, because of its weakening influence on the parent plant. Large clumps soon form when they are well manured and left alone; they should not be planted too deeply. The Tree, or Moutan, varieties are grafted on the stout, fleshy roots of the herbaceous species, principally P. albiflora and P. officinalis. August is a good time to graft. The scions should be selected without flower-buds, and united to the stock-root, which should then be potted and plunged amongst ordinary soil in a frame, allowing the soil to cover the scion up a little way. If the frames are closed, and a slight shading applied, a union will generally soon take place, when air may be gradually admitted, but the plants may remain undisturbed till spring. Propagated also by layering, and sometimes by division.
P. albiflora (white-flowered).* fl. on a peduncle, more produced than in P. officinalis, often with a large, simple leaf just below the flower, and one or two large, foliaceous outer sepals; petals usually white or pink, but variable, 1 1/2in. to 2in. broad. May and June. Follicles often three or four, less than 1in. long. l., leaflets often confluent at the base, oblong, acute, 3in. to 4in. long, 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad, glabrous, brighter green than in other species, often coloured at edges, and the veins also red; lower leaves with about five segments in each of the three divisions. Stems 2ft. to 3ft. long, glabrous, often branched, two to five-flowered. Siberia, 1548. The roots are sometimes eaten by the Mongolian Tartars. SYN. P. edulis. Varieties: fragrans (B. R. 485), Humei=sinensis (B. M. 1768), tatarica (B. R. 42), uniflora (B. M. 1756), vestalis (A. B. R. 64), and Whitleyi (A. B. R. 612; B. R. 630).
P. anomala (anomalous). fl. solitary; outer sepals produced into long, often compound, leafy points; corolla bright crimson, 4in. in diameter, with about eight obovate or oblong petals, 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad; stamens 1/2in. to 3/4in. long. May. Follicles about three, avoid, 1in. long. l. ten to twelve, cut into numerous confluent, lanceolate, acute segments, 1 1/2in. to 2in. long, thirty to forty to the lower leaves, paler below. Stem 2ft. to 3ft. long. Root-tubers large, and fusiform; stolons none. Europe, &c., 1788. SYNS. P. Fischeri, P. intermedia. (A. B. R. 514; B. M. 1754.) P. arietina (ram's-head-like). fl., corolla dark red, 4in. in diameter. May. Follicles three or four, densely tomentose, avoid, spreading almost horizontally from the base, 1in. long. l. five or six on a stem, pale green or glaucous, and pubescent beneath; segments oblong or oblong-lanceolate, copiously confluent, not more than 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad, about thirty in the fully developed lower leaves. Stem 2ft. to 3ft. long, hairy upwards, single-flowered. South Europe. Allied to P. peregrina. SYN. P. cretica (B. R. 819).
P. Brownii (Brown's). fl. on a short peduncle; outer sepals leaf-like; corolla globose, not more than 1in. in diameter; petals dull red, brighter towards the edges. May. Follicles four or five, oblong, 1in. long. l. five or six, decompound, with very numerous, small, oblong, obtuse or sub-acute, copiously confluent segments, 1/8in. to 1/3in. broad. Stems one-headed, not more than 1 1/2ft. long, bending over till the follicles touch the ground. North America, 1826. Probably not now in cultivation. SYN. P. californica. (B. R. xxv. 30.)
P. californica (Californian). A synonym of P. Brownii.
P. corallina (coral-red). fl. on a short peduncle; outer sepals leafy, lanceolate, inner obtuse; petals six to eight, crimson or rose-red, obovate or sub-orbicular, 2in. to 3in. long. May. Follicles three, four, or rarely five, spreading from the base when mature, 1 1/2in. long. l. five or six to a stem, glabrous, paler beneath, biternate, with nine distinct, oblong, acute segments, the side ones 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad, the end one sometimes 2in. broad, and reaching a length of 3in. to 4in. Stem 2ft. to 3ft. long, one-headed. Tubers fusiform. Europe (not native of Britain), Asia Minor.
P. cretica (Cretan). A synonym of P. arietina.
P. daurica (Dahurian). A synonym of P. triternata.
P. decora (decorous). fl., outer sepals broad, and leafy; petals six to eight, crimson, 1 1/2in. to 2in. long, 1in. broad. May. Follicles two or three, tomentose, avoid, very thin, diverging widely when mature. l. five or six to a stem, pale green or slightly glaucous, red at the margins, glabrous, or slightly pilose beneath; segments numerous and very confluent, thirty to forty to the fully developed leaves. Stem 2ft. to 3ft. long, glabrous, one-flowered. Servia, &c. Related to P. arietina.
P. edulis (edible). A synonym of P. albiflora.
P. Emodi (Mount Emodus).* fl. white, 3in. to 4in. in diameter; several of the outer sepals produced into leafy points; petals unequal, obovate, the outer 1 1/2in. to 1 3/4in. broad. March. Follicles one or two, ovoid, 1/2in. in diameter. l. thin, glabrous, paler beneath; lower ones with twenty to thirty lanceolate, or oblonglanceolate, very confluent, acuminate segments, 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad. Stems 2ft. to 3ft. long, two or three-flowered when at all luxuriant. Himalayas, 1868. Rare in cultivation, but a fine plant. (B. M. 5719) P. Fischeri (Fischer's). A synonym of P. anomala.
P. humilis (dwarf). fl. on a short peduncle; calyx with often one to three very compound leaves from its base; petals bright red, orbicular, 2in. long. May. Carpels two or three, 1in. long, 1/2in. in diameter. l. five or six to a stem, the lower with twenty to thirty oblong, acute, copiously confluent segments, 1/4in. to 1/2in. broad, dark green and glabrous above, pale and pubescent beneath. Stems 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. long, one-headed, hairy towards the top. South of France, 1633. A well-known garden plant. (B. M. 1422.)
P. hybrida (hybrid). A form of P. tenuifolia.
P. intermedia (intermediate). A synonym of P. anomala.
P. laciniata (torn). A form of P. tenuifolia.
P. lobata (lobed). A form of P. officinalis.
P. mollis (soft). fl. like those of P. officinalis and P. peregrina, but smaller and duller in hue. May. Follicles similar, densely pilose. l. five or six, crowded, dull green above, glaucous and densely pubescent beneath, cut into thirty to forty oblong-lanceolate segments, 3/4in. to 1in. broad. Stem about 1ft. long, one-headed, densely pilose. Not very distinct from P. paradoxa. (B. R. 474; L. B. C. 1263.)
P. Moutan.* Moutan Paeony. fl. various in colour, very large. May. Carpels small, numerous, densely pilose. l., leaflets entire at base, often cut in the upper part into oblong, acute segments, glabrous on both surfaces, moderately firm, not at all decurrent on the rachis. Stems shrubby, copiously branched. h. 3ft. Widely cultivated in China and Japan. 1789. Fig. 3 represents a single-flowered, and Fig. 4 a double-flowered, variety of this beautiful species. (B. M. 1154.) Garden varieties: Anneslei (T. H. S. vi. 482, 7), Banksii (A. B. R. 448; B. R. 379), Humei, papaveracea (A. B. R. 463; B. M. 2175; L. B. C. 547), Rawesii, and rosea (A. B. R. 373; L. B. C. 1035).
P. officinalis (officinal).* fl., sepals unequal, the inner obtuse, the outer acute and leaf-like; petals dark crimson, much imbricated, obovate or nearly orbicular, 1 1/2in. to 2in. broad; stamens 1/2in. long; anthers rather shorter than the filaments. May. Carpels two or three, ovoid, densely tomentose, 1in. long when mature. l. five or six to a stem, glabrous, paler beneath, the lowest with fifteen to twenty lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, acute, confluent leaflets, 1in. to 2in. broad. Stem stout, one-flowered, glabrous, 2ft. to 3ft. long. South Europe, 1548. The commonest species in gardens, especially in the double-flowered form. (B. M. 1784.). P. lobata is regarded by Mr. Baker as a dwarfer variety, with narrower and more numerous leaf segments.
P. paradoxa (paradoxical). fl. on very short peduncles. May. l., lower ones cut up into from thirty to forty acute, confluent segments, 1/2in. to 3/4in. broad, the largest not more than 1 1/2in. to 2in. long. Stem 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high, with never more than a single flower. Otherwise like P. peregrina, of which it is "not in any broad sense more than a variety" (Baker). (S. B. F. G. 19.) P. peregrina (foreign). fl. on a short peduncle; inner sepals orbicular, 3/4in. to 1in. long, outer with leafy points; petals five to ten, bright crimson, 2in. long, 1 1/2in. to 2in. broad. May. Follicles two or three, erect-arcuate, 1/2in. in diameter; stigmas folded together. l. five or six to a stem, dull green and glabrous above, pale and pilose beneath, the lower with fifteen to twenty oblong, acute segments, 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad, the longest 3in. to 4in. long. Stem 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. long, one-headed, pubescent towards the top. South Europe, 1629. Common in cultivation. (B. M. 1050.) SYN. P. pubens (B. M. 2264).
P. pubens (downy). A synonym of P. peregrina.
P. Russi (Russ's). Follicles finely pubescent. l. thin in texture; segments ovate or oblong. Stem 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long. Otherwise like P. corallina, of which, according to Mr. Baker, it is scarcely more than a variety. Sicily, &c.
P. tenuifolia (slender-leaved).* fl. solitary, erect, surrounded by the crowded, reduced upper leaves; sepals orbicular, 1/2in. to 3/4in. long; petals dark crimson, elliptic-cuneate, 1 1/2in. long; anthers shorter than the filaments. June. Follicles two or three, not more than 1/2in. long. l. ten to twelve, cut up into very numerous, linear, one nerved, confluent segments, less than one line broad. Stems one-headed, glabrous, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, densely leafy up to the flower. Root-tubers fascicled, with creeping stolons. Transylvania to the Crimea, &c., 1765. A well-known and very distinct type. (B. M. 926.) P. hybrida and P. laciniata are varieties with broader leaf-segments. The double state, a handsome garden plant, is shown P. triternata (triternate). fl., outer sepals leaf-like, inner obtuse; petals six to eight, rose-red, obovate, 2in. to 2 1/2in. long. May. Follicles two to four, densely tomentose, spreading from the base when mature. l. five or six to a stem, glabrous, pale green above, glaucous beneath, with broad, oblong or obovate leaflets, obtusely rounded at the apex, with a small cusp, not confluent at the base; the side ones often 2in. broad, and the end one obovate or orbicular, 3in. to 4in. long and broad. Stem 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. long, one-flowered, glabrous. Tubers thick. Caucasus, &c., 1790. Allied to P. corallina. SYN. P. daurica. (A. B. R. 486; B. M. 1441.)
P. Wittmanniana (Wittmann's).* fl. borne on a short peduncle; sepals orbicular, the longest over 1in. long; petals orbicular, yellowish-white, 2in. long; filaments longer than the small anthers. April. Carpels glabrous, with a small, spirally-curved stigma. l., lower ones biternate, with usually not more than three segments in each division; leaflets thin, often 1 1/2in. to 2in. broad, ovate, acute, dark green and glabrous above, hairy below. Stems-one-headed. h. 2ft. Caucasus and North Persia, 1842. A well-marked species, but rare in cultivation.(B. M. 6645).
Varieties. These are very numerously represented in both of the sections to which reference has been made in the foregoing cultural notes. Many produce flowers of an extraordinary size, and colours range in them through almost every variety and shade; they are also fragrant, and well adapted for travelling in a cut state. Subjoined is a selection, which comprises many of the best sorts:
Double Herbaceous Paeonies. June-flowering (varieties of P. albiflora). AMABILIS, satin rose; AMBROISE VERSCHAFFELT, rich purple, fragrant; ATROSANGUINEA, purple, golden anthers; AUGUSTE VAN GEERT, rose-pink; BELLE DOUAISIENNE, white, laced purple; BLANC, pure white; BOSSUET, magenta-rose; BUCKII, intense crimson-purple, rose scented; CARNEA ELEGANS, delicate pink, shading to white; CHARLES BINDER, rich magenta-rose; DECAISNE, deep rose, fragrant; DECANDOLLE, fine rose, shading to pink, fragrant; DR. BRITONNAU, satin rose, centre white; DUCHESSE DE MODENA, rose, centre blush; ECLATANTE, rich purple; EDULIS, white; EDULIS FRAGRANS, deep rich rose; ETENDARD DU GRAND HOMME, brilliant rose, very large, rose-scented; FESTIVA MAXIMA, pure white, fragrant; FORMOSA, blush, centre primrose; FULGIDA, deep rose; GENERAL BEDEAU, rose, centre sulphur, very fragrant; GLOBOSA, deep pink, centre florets primrose; GLOIRE DE DOUAI, deep crimson, golden anthers; GRANDIFLORA NIVEA, white, tinged rose; HENRI IV., blush pink; HUMEI, scarlet-crimson, very dwarf; INCOMPARABILIS, rose, shaded purple, fragrant; INSIGNIS, rose-carmine, rose-scented; ISIDORE LEROY, crimson-purple; LOUIS VAN HOUTTE, purple-crimson; MADAME BOUCHALET AINE, rich purple-crimson, fragrant; MADAME CALLOT, white, tinged rose, rose-scented; MADAME DE MONTIJOU, blush, centre white; MADAME SCHMIDT, purple-crimson, showy golden anthers, fragrant; MADAME VILMORIN, blush, centre white; NOBILISSIMA, full deep rose; PAPAVERAEFLORA, white, centre primrose; PRINCE CHARLES, rose-purple, centre chamois; PRINCE PROSPER, purple-magenta, golden anthers; PULCHERRIMA, guard petals blush, centre white, rose scented; PURPUREA SUPERBA, rich glowing purple, fragrant; REINE DES ROSES, guard petals deep rose, centre chamois-rose; ROSEA MAXIMA, pink, inner florets white, tinged rose; ROSEA PRAECOX, rose, early flowering; THE QUEEN, blush rose, very large, rose-scented; TRIOMPHE DE L'EXPOSITION DE LILLE, rich purple, fragrant.
Hardy European Paeonies. May-flowering (varieties of P. officinalis). DOUBLE ANEMONE-FLOWERED, large, rich crimson; petals somewhat irregular. DOUBLE RED, flowers large, rich crimson; abundantly produced; a very old variety. DOUBLE ROSE, flowers opening full rose, and chauging to flesh colour; large and fine. DOUBLE WHITE, flowers large, opening pale pink, and changing to pure white. Moutan, or Tree-Paeonies. May-flowering (varieties of P. Moutan). ALBA LILACINA, ATROPURPUREA, BEAUTY OF CANTON, BLANCHE NOISETTE, CANDIDA, CARNEA PLENA, COUNTESS OF CRAWFORD, ELIZABETHA, EMPEROR OF CHINA, GLORIA BELGARUM, INCARNATA PLENA, LACTEA, MANDARIN, MAXIMA PLENA, OCELLATA, OSIRIS, PRIDE OF HONGKONG, REINE DES FLEURS, ROBERT FORTUNE, SALMONEA, SNOWBALL, SOUVENIR DE GAND, SPECIOSISSIMA, STELLA, TRIOMPHE DE MILAN, VERSICOLOR PLENA, VILLE DE VERSAILLES, VIOLACEA PURPUREA, VIVID, ZENOBIA.