2.', 2,.
P A Ò N IA Moutan; uur. variegata.
Party-coloured Tree Pceony.
Linnean Class and Order. POLY AN DR IA DIGYNIA.
Naturai Order. RANUNCULACEiE. Juss. g en .p . 231.
P JE O N IA . Calyx 5-sepalus Ibliaceus in-dcqualis. P etala 5-10 sub-
orbiculata. Stamina indefinita. Discus carnosus ovaria cingens. Car-
pella 2-5 grossa stigmatibus bilamellatis crassis instructa, in tblliculos capsulares
conversa. Semina subglobosa, nitida.
RadicesyascíCMÍaíO!. Eolia caulina biternatim secta. Flores ampli albi
aut purpurascentes. Decand. prodr. 1. p. 05.
P . Moutan, caule fruticoso, foliolis summo apice trifidis, germinibus to-
nientosis urceolo membranaceo inclusis. Anderson in limi, trans. 12.
p . 252.
P®onia Moutan. Hort. kew. ed. I I . v. 3. p . 315. Sims in bot. mag. 1 .1154.
Smith in Rees' cyclop, in loco. Bonpl. nav. p . 1. i. 1. Decand. syst. 1.
p. 381. prodr. 1. p.G6.
P . ofiicinalis. l'hunb. fi. ja p . p . 230. (ex parte).
S. variegata, floribus 10-petalis patulis, petalis albo-roseis basi intensè lila-
cinis, caule vix sesquipedali.
Z/ sÙktitrt 'di'
This is a low growing bushy plant, branching from the
ground, and scarcely woody. The stems, altliough they
rarely exceed afoot or 18 inches in height, bear commonly
not less than five flowers. Leaves triternately parted, with
ovate-oblong acuminate segments, of a greener hue tlian is
met with in the other varieties of this species ; the terminal
ones mostly 3-lobed. Plowers large and showy, of seldom
more than 10 petals, and when fully expanded about G
inches across. Petals broadly wedge-shaped, veiny and
lobed at the upper edge, the ground white, stained of a deep
rose colour in various parts, the base marked with numerous
radiating streaks of violet and purple. Stamens numerous,
apparently fertile. Pilaments purple. Anthers yellow.
Pistils dark red.
The Earl of Mountnorris, whose successful culture of the
tree Pieony, has been rewarded by the production of several
splendid varieties far excelling any of those imported from
China, was so fortunate also as to raise the present line variety,
L 2