Website/Catalog  (29 Jan 2010)  
 
Paeonia officinalis L. var. elegans
For a description of the species see Paeonia officinalis L..  The variety elegans has yellowish white flowers.  [Gard. Chron. 1856].

Horticultural & Botanical History
Paeonia elegans was recognised and grown in the Victorian era but I have found no recent references to this plant.

History at Camden Park
Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [B.389/1850].

Book  (2010)  Page(s) 228.  
 
Paeonia officinalis L. ...
Paeonia elegans Sabine ex Salm-Dyck, Hort. Dyck, 370 (1834). pro syn. sub. P. officinalis.

Book  (2004)  Page(s) 348.  
 
Tubers and seeds of an allied [to P. emodi] European species, Paeonia officinalis Linn., contain a toxic alkaloid which produces contraction of the renal capillaries and increases the coagulability of blood.
Use in Western herbal Since the times of Hippocrates (470-377 BC), Peony (Paeonia officinalis) was used for testing epilepsy. Ibn-el-Beitar, a medieval Arab physician, also recommended it for epilepsy. Nicholas Culpepper (1616-1654) wrote of it: "The roots of male Peony, having been found by experience, cure the falling illness...The root is also effectual for women that are not sufficiently cleansed after child-birth." ...
Caution Contraindicated during pregnancy. Canadian regulations do not allow Paeonia officinalis as a non-medical ingredient for oral use products.

Book  (2001)  Page(s) 46.  
 
Plant Introductions in the period before AD 1000
Paeonia officinalis Common Peony. France to Albania.

Book  (2001)  Page(s) 39.  
 
...Paeonia officinalis, which is indigenous anywhere between France and Albania. It is not known when the plant arrived in England, but it was certainly well known in medieval times, since evidence shows that in 1299 the infirmarian of Durham Priory bought 3 lb...of the seeds. These were used medically to help stave off nightmares and for pain relief...

Book  (Jan 1999)  Page(s) 633.  Includes photo(s).
 
Paeonia officinalis single, purple or red, rose-like flowers. Although poisonous, it has been used medicinally

Book  (Jan 1999)  Page(s) 324.  
 
P. officinalis Herbaceous Peony... red

Website/Catalog  (1983)  Page(s) 27.  
 
Pivoine des Jardins (officinalis) : Hauteur : 40/50 cm. Précoce. Port bien compact. .... Rouge : bien double

Website/Catalog  (1925)  Page(s) 40.  
 
Officinalis. Single red......1 piece M 1.-, 100 pieces M 80.-

Book  (1917)  Page(s) 28.  
 
P. officinalis (of the apothecaries' offices or shops—used for medicinal purposes)—see colour plate—the red single or double peony of old-fashioned gardens. White single and double varieties have also been known for over three hundred years.
This species is a native of southern Europe and is the peony of mythology and of Greek and Latin literature. It is grown to some extent in gardens now. This species gave the genus its name.