(1818)  Page(s) 274-275.  
 
9. Pæonia Decora ....
β. elatior ; foliolis lato-oblongis.
First observed in the nursery of Messrs. Chandler and Buckingham, who believe they got it from Holland. It differs from the preceding  [Pallasii] in the leaves being somewhat broader, and the plant altogether more robust and rather more pubescent; una questionably a mere variety.

(1818)  Page(s) 256-257.  
 

2. PÆONIA ALBIFLORA.
P. caule subtrifloro herbaceo, foliolis ovato-lanceolatis confluentibus laciniatis, germinibus glabris, floribus erectis.
P. albiflora. Pall. Rose. v. ii. p. 92. t. 84. Willd. Sp. Pl. v. ii. p. 1222. Hort. Kew. v. iii. p. 316. Rees's Cycl. 
P. lacteo flore, foliis utrinque viridantibus et splendentibus. Gmelin in Amman. Ruth. 77. n. 103.
P. fructibus tribus glabris. Gmelin Sib. v. iv. p. 184. 
Radicis tubera fusiformia, fusca, aggregata. Planta omnino glaberrima. Caulis bi- tripedalis et ultra, angulosus, flexuosus, in duos aut tres pedunculos versus apicem desinens, interdum simplex, præcipue apud axillas (petiolumique) rubescens. Folia biternata, foliola modo lobata, seu incisa, decurrentia, hinc confluentia, lanceolata, latitudine et figura, secundum varietates, valde diversa, acuminata, subtus nitidissine viridia, supra saturatiora, venis atro-rubentibus protuberantibus, marginibus scabra. Bracteæ nonnullæ foliaceæ, inferiores partitæ, superiores in calycis foliola orbiculata sensim transeuntes. Corolla variat petalis 8-14, colore vario a niveo ad roseum, subincisis, erosis, plicatulis, interioribus angustatis. Stamina splendide aurea. Membrana vere perigyna longior quam in cæteris speciebus herbaceis, lobata seu lacera. Germina 3–5, primum erecta demum recurvato-patentia; stigmata obtusiuscula reflexa. Floret fine Maii ad finem Junii.

We had almost persuaded ourselves that Besler's two figures in Hort. Eyst. Plant. Vern. ordo vi. no. 12 & 13, belonged to this species ;- but what can we say for an author's accuracy, who delineates P. officinalis with a divided stem supporting two flowers?
Native of a vast range of latitude, from the northern regions of Siberia down to the dominions of China. Pallas found it in Mongol Tartary, and on the borders of Lake Baical. Its roots, he says, are used as an article of food by the Tartars, and the seeds reduced to powder mixed with their tea. Discovered also on Mount Caucasus, and in Georgia on grassy hills.
In proportion to the diversity of climate it is found to vary in form and stature. We bave in vain endeavoured to discover any fixed inarks of distinction between the nine plants enumerated below, and are obliged to conclude that they all belong to one original species. In their relative connexion, the three double varieties from China are the furthest apart, yet they differ from the others only in degrees of con parison ; in the essential points there appears to be no discrepancy whatever. This species is distinguished from anomala, with which only it can be confounded, by its erect flowers, more obtuse foliage, and above all by its having more than one flower on its stem, a property possessed by no herbaceous Pæony but itself. Nor ought we to omit mentioning the seed, the uniform brown colour of which is peculiar to this species, and serves materially to confirm our opinion, those of all the other herbaceous species being black when ripe. 

(1818)  Page(s) 261-262.  
 

3. PÆONIA ANOMALA.
P. caule unifloro, foliolis multipartitis, laciniis lanceolatis germinibusque glabris, flore nutante.
P. anomala. Linn. Mantiss. 247. Retz. Obs. iii. p. 36. Murray in Act. Soc. Gott. v. vii. p. 90. Willd. Sp. Pl. v. ii. p. 1222. Hort. Kew. ed. ii. v. iii. p. 316. Bot. Rep. 514. Bot. Mag. 1754.
P. fructibus glabris patentibus. Gmelin Sib. iv. p. 184. t. 72.
P. laciniata. Pall. Ross. v. ii. p. 93. t. 85. sub P. sibirica. 
Planta tota glabra. Radicis tubera fusiformia, magna, subsessilia. Caulis bi- tripedalis, uniflorus, angulato-cylindraceus, rubicundus. Folia biternata seu ternata, pinnatifida, hinc dissecta laciniis angustis acutis, decurrentia ; subtus nitentia, venis prominentibus. Bracleæ foliaceæ, corollan subæquantes, calyci connexæ. Calycis foliola orbiculata, acuminata, nonnunquam bifida, apice rubentia. Corollæ nutantis petala 6—8, inæqualia, apice erosa, emarginata, seu bifida, punicea. Germina plerumque 5, in stellam disposita, glabra, nitentia, æqualia, depressa, demum patentia, vix recurvata. Stigmata plana, erectiuscula, lunata, rubra. Calli fungosi, difformes, coronam circum basin germinum formant, quâ notâ optime species distinguitur. Semina nigra, ovata, lævia, splendentia. Floret ad finem Maii.

This is a most distinct and well-marked species, being endowed with one unique property, in having its flowers constantly drooping to one side. It differs also essentially from albiflora in being supplied with only one flower on the stem ; and from all the other smooth-leaved species by its smooth germens. The earliest notice of it appears in Gmelin's Flora Sibirica, published at Petersburg in 1747. Though Linné does not acknowledge it in either edition of his Species Plantarum, it is at length admitted in the Mantissa.
Native of all Siberia, and frequent on the Altaic mountains. It was first introduced into England by the late Mr. Bell, from Pallas, about the year 1788, as P.laciniata, under which name it is described in Flora Rossica, but on its figure in the same work it is called sibirica. Pallas sent seeds of it to Murray as P. heterophylla ; and it appears as P.quinquecapsularis in the Description of the Russian Empire by Georgi, who found it eastward of the river Ural, for we believe this to be our plant. We must, however, preserve the original name given by Linné, however objectionable.
The roots grow to a great size in their native state, and together with those of albiflora compose part of the food of the Mongol Tartars. Gmelin says the roots have a smell similar to that of the Florentine Iris; and Pallas compares it to that of bitter almonds or peach-kernels.
The fleshy protuberances which surround the base of the germens are nothing else than the perigynous membrane in another form, an appendage which never is entirely wanting in any of the species.

(1818)  Page(s) 268-270.  
 

6. PEONIA CORALLINA.
P. foliolis distinctis ovatis planiusculis glabris, intermedio sub- lobato, folliculis recurvatis tomentosis.
P. corallina. Retz. Obs. iii. p. 34. Willd. Sp. Pl. v. ii. p. 1221. Engl. Bot. 1513. Hort. Kew.ed. ii. v. iii. p. 515. De Cand. Fl. Fr. v. v. p. 643. Smith Floræ Græcæ Prod. v. i. p. 370.
P. Mas. Matthioli Comment. lib. iii. c. 151. Dod. Pempt. p. 194. Lob. Ic. 684. Tabernam. Ic. t. 734. J. Bauh. v. iii. p. 492. : Ger. Ein. p. 980. Park. Par. p. 341 & 343. f. 1. Raii Hist. v. i. p. 693. Blackwell Herb. t. 245.
P. Mas flore purpureo. Besler Eyst. Vern. ord. vi. fol. 10. 1.
P. officinalis, var. β mascula. Linn. Sp. Pl. 747. 
P. officinalis. Mill. Illustr. 
P. máscula. Miller's Dict. ed. viii. 1.
P. folio nigricante splendido, quæ Mas. C. Bauh. Phytop. p. 647. Idem, Pinax. p. 323. Tournef. Inst. p. 273. t. 146.
P. simplex latiore folio. Moris. Oxon. v. ii. p. 454. 1.
P. integra. Murray in Commentat. Soc. Gætt. 1784 & 1785, v. vii. 
Radicis tubera numerosa, fusiformia, aggregata. Caulis bipedalis et altior, simplex, glaber, teretiusculus, rubicundus. Petioli communes longi, rubicundi ut in caule. Folia bi- triternata, vel ternata, pinnata, glabra. Foliola omnia distincta, nec confluentia ; lateralia integra; intermedium sæpius bilobum, raro tripartitum, nonnunquam integrum; lato-ovata, planiuscula, subinde subundulata, plus minus reticulata, acutiuscula, supra saturate viridia, venis rubicundis, subtus pallidiora. Calycis foliola glabra, exteriora lanceolata, reliqua rotunda. Petala 5–6, integriuscula, ovata, concava, expansa, kermesiņa seu saturate rosea, venis coloris profundioris notata. Germina 3-4 raro 5, mollissime omnium tomentosa, primum rectiuscula, patentia, demum valde recurvata. Follicula matura aperta, longitudinaliter revoluta, seminibus atro-purpureis, pluriinis abortivis phæniceis intermixtis, pulcherrime bullata. Stigmata revoluta, compressa, rubra. Semina ovata, lævia, illis P. officinalis minora. Floret a fine Maii ad initium Junii. 

This is recognised as P. mas of Pliny and other ancient writers : upon what ground it obtained this title we cannot conjecture. It retained it, however, till Retzius, describing it for the first time scientifically, gave it that which it now bears. It is strange that Linné, who must have seen both plants, should persist in considering this and P. officinalis as only varieties of the same species, no two plants in the whole genus being more distinctly separated.
The leaves of some varieties lately brought from Holland differ in being less or more pitted, but do not display any disposition to intermingle with other species. The leaves and stem are always quite free from pubescence in all our examples ; though Ray, who copies John Bauhin, says that the leaves are “lanugine quadam aversa parte pubescentibus,” owing possibly to the carelessness of old writing.
Native of mountainous woods in the south of Europe, as in the neighbourhood of Alais in Languedoc; frequent in Switzerland, and on the Alps generally: also on Mount Ida and in the island of Zante. Our claim to it as a native of Britain is perhaps but slender. It grows apparently indigenous on a small island in the Severn frith, called the Steep Holmes : and Gerard says that it grew wild in his time near Southfleet in Kent, but his editor Johnson unceremoniously observes that he planted it there himself.

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7. PÆONIA DAURICA.
P. foliolis distinctis subrotundis undulatis obliquis integriusculis glabris, folliculis patentibus tomentosis.
P. daurica. And. Repos. 486. Bot. Mag. 1441. Hort. Kew. ed. ii. v. iii. p. 317.
P. triternata. Pall. Ind. Plant. Taur. in Nov. Act. Petrop. v. x. p. 312. Georgi Beschr. des Russ. Reichs. v. iii. p. 1050? 
Radicis tubera crassa, oblonga, sessilia, fibrisque adnata. Caulis sesqui- bipedalis, sub-erectus, rigidus, flavo-virens, glaber. Folia figura præcedentis, persistentia, apice tandem sphacelata. Foliola inæqualiter rotunda, raro lobata, obliqua, valde undulata, supra flavo-virentia, subtus glauca, venis reticulata. Petioli abbreviati. Calycis foliola glabra, duo exteriora foliacea, reliqua orbiculata, cava. Corolla rosea, petalis circi. ter octo obtusis. Germina 2–4, flavescentia, dense tomentosa, demum patentia, vix reflexa. Stigmata rubra, recurvata. Semina fusco-nigra, sphærica, reticulata. Floret a medio ad finem Maii.

We believe this to be a discovery of Pallas, and that it is P. triternata of his Tour, and of Georgi's Description of the Russian Empire published at Kœnigsberg in 1800. The late Mr. Bell received seeds of it from Pallas prior to the year 1790: it is said to be a native of Siberia, but its native habitat is not precisely known.
Though in general habit a good deal resembling P. corallina, it is nevertheless essentially distinct from that species, in having its leaves always rounded, partially cordate, oblique, and much undulated; whereas those of the former are more or less pointed and nearly flat: the spherical, brownish-black, reticulated seeds, and the yellow tint of its leaves, stalks, and germens, would otherwise characterize it.
Its leaves are disposed to wither at the points and to remain longer on the stalks than those of the others. Its flower is of a pleasant pale rose colour. Among seedlings it is seen to vary in the degree of undulation of its leaves, but retains its essential character throughout.

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9. PÆONIA DECORA.
P. foliolis tripartito-laciniatis oblongis obtusis canaliculatis subtus pilosis, germinibus pubescentibus patentibus, stigmatibus recurvatis.
P. byzantina prior. Clus. Hist. p. 279.
P. peregrina flore saturè rubente. Bauh. Pina. 324. Raii Hist. v. i. p. 696. Moris. Hist. v. ii. p. 455.
P. fœmina byzantina. Park. Par. p. 342 & 343. t. 2 ? 
Radix præcedentis, tuberibus tamen paullo majoribus. Caulis erectus, bi- tri-pedalis, glaber. Folia biternata, caulina horizontalia, parum reflexa. Foliola (intermedium trilobum) lateralia sub-decurrentia, hinc interdum laciniata, oblonga, obtusiuscula, longitudinaliter canaliculata seu inflexa, minime undulata, glauca, non nitida, vix rugösa, margine rubicunda, subtus, ut et petioli partiales, parum pilosa. Pedunculi elongati, glabri. Calyx præcedentis. Petala circiter octo, parva, angusta, margine crispa, saturate kermesina. Germina 2–3, suberecta, pube albido læviter tecta, demum patentissima, rubicunda. Stigmata lunata, pallide-rubra. Semina ovata, atropurpurea, lævia, splendentia. Floret ad finem Maii.

This and the three succeeding species are nearly allied to each other: it is, however, frequently a much easier task to determine a species a species than to describe it. Being satisfied that they are distinct, we have endeavoured to give the best distinguishing characters that a close examination of three seasons has afforded us.
Our present plant we do not hesitate to refer to that which Clusius obtained from Constantinople; as the description which he and the succeeding writers give of it agrees with ours, and it also comes from the same quarter.
It is remarkable for the elegant stateliness of its habit. Each stalk accompanied by its horizontal leaves, diminishing as they ascend, and terminated by its flower, (which is rather smaller than is usual in the genus,) supported on a long peduncle, exhibits somewhat of a pyramidal figure. Its leaflets are constantly more or less longitudinally inflexed or concave: in this respect it resembles the last described, but differs from it in the leaflets being broad and obtuse. The follicles are less pubescent than those of the three following species, but more so than those of the preceding; they are very large, and at maturity diverge widely, but do not become so much recurved as those of P. arietina. We have only observed two varieties. 
α. Pallasii ; foliolis anguste oblongis.
Seeds of this plant were received by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy from Pallas, probably from the Crimea, where he spent the latter years of his life. The name he gave it, if any, has been lost; they called it byzantina: its flower has a fine deep rose colour, in shape and appearance not unlike that of Papaver somniferum ; the seedlings came up without exhibiting any apparent variation. 
β. elatior ; foliolis lato-oblongis.
First observed in the nursery of Messrs. Chandler and Buckingham, who believe they got it from Holland. It differs from the preceding in the leaves being somewhat broader, and the plant altogether more robust and rather more pubescent; una questionably a mere variety.

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8. PÆONIA HUMILIS.
P. foliolis tripartito-compositis lanceolatis acutis canaliculatis sub-villosis, germinibus rectis glabriusculis, stigmatibus erectis.
P. humilis. Retz. Obs. iii. p. 35. Bot. Mag. 1422. Smith in Rees's . Cycl. Hort. Kew. ed. ii. v. iii. p. 316.
P. hispanico semine nata. Clus. Hist. v. i. p. 279.
P. tenuis laciniata &c. Bauh. Pin. p. 323. 4. Morison Hist. v. ii. p. 455. 8.
P. fœmina pumila. Ger. Em. p. 982. 6, quoad Iconem.
P. foemina hispanica pumila. Park. Herb. 1379. Raii Hist, v. i. p. 694.
Radicis tubera numerosa, parva, elliptica. Caulis sesqui- bipedalis, flexuosus, angulatus, glaber. Petioli glabri, partialis medius lateralibus duplo longior. Folia biternata vel ternato-trifida, valde et inæqualiter incisa seu pinnatifida, supra saturate viridia, rugosiuscula, glabra, margine rubicunda: subtus glauca, villis obsoletis demum evanescentibus tecta, venis prominentibus glabriusculis ; laciniæ lanceolatæ, apice attenuatæ, acutæ, incurvo-canaliculatæ, undulatæ, transverse reflexæ, Pedunculi sulcati, elongati. Bracteæ (una vel altera) integræ seusimpliciter fissæ, calyci approximatæ. Calyx glaber, foliis exterioribus planis, interioribus concavis muticis. Petala 6-8, eroso-marginata, parum laciniata, purpureu-sanguinea. Germina 2, raro 3, primo recta, leviter pubescentia, denique patentiuscula, glabra; folliculi maturi vix reflexi. Stigmata persistentia, elongata, erecta, apice reflexa (hujus speciei signum præstantissimum). Semina anguloso-ovata, atro-purpurea, lævia, splendentia. Floret initio Maii.

This species may be recognised with tolerable precision as that mentioned by Clusius, an acute observer and original writer, who described a great number of plants then unknown, which he observed in the countries visited by him towards the latter end of the sixteenth century. He discovered it in Spain ; which is happily confirmed by our countryman Dr. Shuter lately returned from that country, who says he saw P. humilis growing abundantly on the mountains. It seems indeed to belong exclusively to Spain, unless it be what De Candolle considers a variety of P. peregrina, observed by bim on the Serane mountains with smooth gerinens, and the segments of the leaves “ plus pales et plus allongés," which we think highly probable. P. lusitanica of Miller, “ with flowers of an agreeable sweet scent,” cannot be reconciled with this or with any species we know. We suspect that Willdenow did not know this species, otherwise he could not have mistaken P. paradoxa var. β. for a double-flowering variety of it in his Enum. Plantarum. 
The plant which we describe is probably an offspring from the seeds obtained from Spain through Clusius : how or when it came into this country is uncertain ; possibly from the Dutch, who seem to have retained a taste for Pæonies long after they had got out of repute in this country. We found it in the nursery of Messrs. Chandler and Buckingham, at Vauxhall, who do not know from whence they obtained it. The figure in the Botanical Magazine is taken from their plant.
It is characterized by narrower, more subdivided and smoother leaves than those of any other species in the present subdivision. It differs too from the following in its smooth follicles, and from it and all other known species in the stigmas being elongated and almost upright, resenibling styles; an important character, which Retz in bis description, otherwise excellent, has altogether overlooked.

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1. PÆONIA MOUTAN.....
β. Banksii ; foliolis apice fissuris obtusis, floribus plenis, petalis medio rubicundis.
P. suffruticosa var. flo. purpureo. Bot. Repos. 448.
P. Moutan. Bot. Mag. 1154. Rees's Cycl.

Introduced in 1789 by Sir Joseph Banks; the first of the species that appeared in Europe, and which has hitherto been found the most hardy.

The leaves of this variety are more obtuse than those of papaveracea, not so glaucous on the under surface, and darker green on the upper: these, however, are only distinctions of comparison. Calyx composed of eight or ten leaves; corolla of twenty to thirty petals, very large, nearly white in the margin, with an indistinct streak of dull purple along the middle.

(1818)  Page(s) 255.  
 
1. PÆONIA MOUTAN.....
γ. rosea ; foliolis apice fissuris obtusissimis, floribus subplenis, petalis roseis.
P. suffruticosa. Bot. Repos. 373.

This variety was introduced about the year 1794 by the late Right Hon. Charles Greville into bis garden at Paddington : it is more tender than the preceding; and has no other claim for preference to it, but in respect to its smell, which is very fragrant, not unlike that of the rose: the flowers, when weak, are frequently almost single; petals rose-coloured ; leaves more pale ; leaflets broader, more obtuse, and smoother on the upper surface than those of Banksii, and the buds push out in the spring of a more ruddy hue. 

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1. PÆONIA MOUTAN.
P. caule fruticoso, foliolis distinctis summo apice trifidis, germinibus tomentosis urceolo membranaceo inclusis.
P. Moutan. Hort. Kew. ed. ii. v. 3. p. 315.
P. officinalis. Loureiro Flo. Cochinchinensis, 343. Thunb. Flo. Jap. p. 230.
Le Moutan. Mémoires des Chinois, v. iii. p. 461.
Botan. Kæmpf. Amæn. Exot. p. 862. 
Radix ramosa. Caulis 4-pedalis, lignosus (medulla crassa), ramosus, cortice rugosiuscalo, fusco. Ramuli annotini simplices, alterni, pedunculis unifloris deciduis terminati, basi stipulis numerosis cucullatis vaginantibus aucti. Petioli longissimi, glabri, atropurpurei, axillis nigricantibus. Folia biternata, foliola plana, ovata, basi obtusa, interdum obliqua, supra glabra, saturate viridia, venis atropurpureis : subtus cæsio-glauca, pilosiuscula. Foliolum intermedium sæpius inciso-lobatum, subinde obtuse trifidum; lateralia integriora, minora, subsessilia. Bracteæ foliaceæ calyci approximatæ. Calycis foliola numeri incerti, glabra, mucronata. Petala 8–13 palmaria, expansa, obcordata, eroso-crenata. Membrana perigyna tenuis, glabra, rubicunda, primum ovata, apice stigmata effundens, dein germinibus tumentibus rupta. Germina circiter 5 parum tomentosa, demum patentia. Stigmata lineari-compressa; recurvata, purpurea. Floret ad finem Maii.

A minute account of this species is given in the Mémoires des Chinois by the Missionaries, Paris 1778: from whom we learn that it is the pride and glory of the Chinese, who have cultivated it by their own accounts for upwards of 1400 years; and its varieties, from two to three hundred in number, are cherished with no less consideration than the Dutch florists do their tulips; and that it is a theme for their poets and painters, and prized even by their emperors, not only on account of the beauty but of the sweet perfume of its flowers. The colour of these is represented to consist of different shades of purple, crimson, violet, rose, yellow, white, black ! and blue. Their tradition of its first origin is of its being discovered by a traveller on the mountains of Ho-nan: no notice is taken of its being now found there, or any where else in a state of nature; and Loureiro and Thunberg only describe it as being every where cultivated in the gardens of Japan and Cochinchina.
The Chinese take credit for rendering it a shrub by means of their superior art in gardening, for which they plume themselves greatly. It is possible that they might mistake P. albiflora, which is found in China, for the original state of this plant. At this we need not wonder, when two European botanists mistook it for P. officinalis. We cannot for a moment doubt of the shrubby stem being natural, although it bears a strict analogy to the subterraneous caudex of the herbaceous plants, of which it seems to be nothing more than a prolongation, each annual shoot being simple and subtended by numerous vaginal stipulæ, which in those rise only to the surface of the ground, and are not wanting in any of the species. The membrane too which envelops the germens, and which some botanists have suspected should remove this plant to a new genus, is only a more extended example of the truly perigynous crown which surrounds the base of the germens in all the Pæonies.
The seeds are represented as being black; we have not seen them matured : its leaves are not shining as in albiflora, nor are they totally divested of pubescence. The woolly germens would sufficiently distinguish it from that species, though all the other marks were removed.