A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF THE GENUS PAEONIA.
By Mr. R. Irwin Lynch, F.B.H.S.; A.L.S. [Read June 10,1890.]
Paeonia
Sub-genus Moutan
Shrubby. Disc produced enclosing the carpels.
1. P.Moutan Sims
Sub-genus Onaepia.
Herbaceous. Petals short and leathery, scarcely exceeding the sepals.
2. P. Brownei, Dougl
var. californica
Sub-genus Paeon.
Herbaceous. Petals not leathery, large and expanding, much exceeding the sepals.
A. Leaves pinnatisect, with numerous narrow divisions, glabrous.
3. P. tenuifolia L.,
4. P. hybrida, Pall .
5. P. anomala, L., Pall.
B. Leaflets normally quite entire, rarely divided, but sometimes deeply to the base; never decurrent or confluent, except sometimes the lateral leaflets of a terminal trio
* Carpels glabrous.
6. P. Wittmanniana, Stev.
7. P. coriacea, Boiss..
** Carpels hairy.
+ Leaflets almost, if not quite, glabrous below.
8. P. triternata, Pallas
9. P. corallina, Retz.
10. P. Broteri, Boiss et Reut..
++ Leaves decidedly hairy below.
11. P. Russi, Bivon..
C. Flowers more than one on each stem. All divisions of the leaf beyond the three primary ones strongly decurrent. Glabrous.
12. P. albiflora, Pallas
13. P. Emodi, Wall.
D. Leaves of deep green colour, light green below, and not glaucous, rarely, slightly pubescent; leaflets broad, cut and fissured. Sepals glandular, but not with secretion so copious as in P. albiflora. Corolla large and handsome
14. P. officinalis, Retz.
var. lobata
E. Leaves glaucous, or of very pale green above, generally of striking grey-green aspect; leaflets glaucous below, and very rarely without distinct pubescence, always divided, and with the lobes often fissured.
I. Flowers distinctly stalked, not apparently sessile, and resting on the upper leaves.
* Carpels glabrous.
15. P. humilis, Retz.
16. P. microcarpa, Boiss. et Reut..
** Carpels hairy.
+ Terminal free (stalked) divisions of the leaf usually three-lobed, with the middle lobe trifid.
17. P. decora, Anders..
18. P. peregrina, Mill.
var. byzantina, Anders..
var. compacta, Anders..
var. Grevillei, Anders..
19. P. paradoxa, Anders.
++ Terminal free divisions of the leaf three-lobed; the middle lobe rarely bifid, never trifid,
§ Leaflets about twice as long as broad.
20. P. arietina, Anders..
var. Andersoni..
var. cretica
21. P. Bakeri, n. sp.
§§ Leaf segments three times, or more, as long as they are broad.
22. P. pubens, Sims
23. P. Barrii
II. Plants dwarf, with flowers subsessile, appearing to rest on the leaves.
24, P. mollis, Anders.
25. P.villosa, Sweet
notes to the paper of Lynch: