Wen-Pei Fang

NOTES ON CHINESE PAEONIES An abstract

Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica Vol VI. p.313-323 (1959)

(Department of Biology, Szechuan University)

This paper enumerates most of the Chinese species of Paeonia based on field observations made by the author in Szechuan province and on herbarium specimens collected by different Chinese botanists from various provinces of China from 1928 to 1957. These specimens are preserved in the herbaria of the Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Peking, and its Kunming Station at Kunming, Yunnan, and in the Herbarium of the Department of Biology, Szechuan University, Chengtu, Szechuan.

In this paper there are 12 distinct species enumerated, namely, Paeonia suffruticosa, P. szechuanica, P. Delavayi, P. lutea, P. Potanini, P. yunnanensis, P. Mairei, P. obovata, P. Willmottiae, P. lactiflora, P. Yui. and P. Veitchii. Among them P. szechuanica, P. yunnanensis and P. Yui are described by the author as new to science. The author follows De Candolle and other botanists in grouping the species under sections Moutan and Paeon. The first 6 species listed above belong to the Sect. Moutan, the latter 6 to the Sect. Paeon.

'"Moutan", Chinese colloquial name of Paeonia suffruticosa and "Shoyo", Chinese colloquial name of Paeonia lactiflora first appeared in "Sheng-nung-pen-tsao-ching" a book published a long time ago. According to those records, these two kinds of plants had been used in medicine and were highly appreciated by Chinese people, a good long time before they were introduced into the West at the end of 18th Century. On account of their medicinal properties as well as for their horticultural value, they have widely cultivated in gardens and parks throughout this country.

Among the 12 species here given, 8 species are found in Szechuan, 6 in Yunnan, 4 in Shensi, 3 in Shansi, 2 in each of the other northern and northeastern provinces. No species has been reported from the eastern and southern provinces along the sea shore. Szechuan and Yunnan (including southern part of Shensi and Kansu) possess the most species of Paeonia. Furthermore all the 6 species of the tree paeonies of the Sect. Moutan, which are regarded as more primitive than the herbaceous ones of the Sect. Paeon, occur in Szechuan, Yunnan and the southern borders of Shensi and Kansu, this region may be regarded as the center of distribution and native home of this genus.

(I) Sect. Moutan DC. Prodr. I. 65 (1824).

(1) Subsect. Vaginatae F. C. Stern, Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 1 (1946),

1. Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews, Bot. Repos., VI. pi. 373 (1804)..Bailey, Stand. Cycl. Hort., V., 2434 (1916)..Rehder, Man. Cult. Trees & Shrubs, 1st Ed., 214 (1927), 2nd Ed., 5th Print., 204 (1951).-Chen, Ill. Man. Chin. Trees & Shrubs, 1st Ed., 261, fig. 193 (1937), 2nd Ed., 261, fig. 193 (1953). .Handel-Mazzetti in Act. Hort. Gothob., XIII. 40 (1939) (PI. .Sin. XXXIII. 40)..F. C. Stern in Journ. Roy. Hort. Soc., LXVIII. 124 (1943); Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 40 (1946) Tsui, Synop. Econ. PI. N. China, 91 91 (1953).. Hu, Handb. Econ. PI. I (1). 344 (1955). Paeonia arborea Donn, Cat. Hort. Cantab., 3rd Ed., 102 (1804), nomen subnudum.. Joh. Kerner, Hort. Sempervir, t. 645 (1822).. Schneider, 111. Handb. Laubholzk., I. 271, fig. 181 d.f (1904).Paeonia suffruticosa var. purpurea Andrews, Bot. Repos., VII. pl. 448 (1807). Paeonia papaveracea Andrews, Bot. Repos., VII, pi. 463 (1807).Paeonia Moutan Sims in Curtis' Bot. Mag., XXIX. t. 1154 (1808).. Aiton, Hort. Kew, 2nd Ed., III. 315 (1811).DC. Syst., I. 387 (1817); Prodr. I. 65 (1824).. Anderson in Trans. Linn. Soc. London, XII. 254 (1818)..Smith in Rees. Cycl. 1 (1819)..Lindley. Bot. Reg., t. 379 (1819), t. 1678 (1835)..Sabine in Trans. Hort. Soc. London, VL t. 7 (1826).. Miquel, Prol. PI. Jap., 197 (1866.7).Franchet et Savatier,Enum. PI. Jap., I. 14 (1874).. Baker in Gard. Chron., N. Ser. XXI. 779 (1884).. Forbes et Hemsley in Journ. Linn. Soc. London.-Bot. Ser., XXIII. 22 (1886) (Ind. Fl. Sin.).. Lynch in Journ. Roy. Hort. Soc., London, XII. 432, fig. 22, 23 (1890).. Huth in Engler, Bot. Jahrb., XIV. 272 (1891).- Bretschneider, Hist. Europ. Bot. Expl. China, 191, 204 (1898).. Diels in Engler, Bot. Jahrb. XXIX. 324 (1900)..Finet et Gagnepain in Bull. Soc. Bot; Fr.. LI. 534 (1904); Contrib. Fl. As. Or., I. 221 (1905).. Bean, Trees & Shrubs Hardy Brit. Isl., 5th Ed., II. 120 (1929). Paeonia moutan var. papaveracea (Andrews) DC. Syst. I. 387 (1817).. Sims in Curtis' Bot. Mag., XLVII. l 2175 (1820). Paeonia arborea var. papaveracea (Andrews) Schneider, 111, Handb. Laubholzk., I.. fig. 180 (1904). ? Paeonia decomposita Handel Mazzetti in Act. Hort. Gothob. XHI. 39 (1939) (Pl. Sin. XXXIII. 39).. F. C. Stern, Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 142, 147 (1946), noted as a synon.

Shensi: South Wu-tai-shan (T. N. Uou, P. C. Tsoong et C. S. Tien, 127). Kansu: Tien-shut Hsien (C. W. Chang, 13),

This most beautiful paeony has been praised as "the King of flowers" for a long time in China and its colloquial name is "Moutan" in Chinese. It has been commonly cultivated in gardens since the Han Dynasty, for more than 2,000 years. It may be found in gardens of all the main cities throughout this country, but the wild form is known to occur in Shensi and Kansu provinces. Dr. F. C. Stern recorded the distribution of this species also in Bhutan, Tibet and Ta-tsien-lu of Western Szechuan. I am in doubt whether Dr. Stern's records are based on wild or cultivated plants.

Dr. Handel-Mazzetti based Paeonia decomposita on a single fruiting specimen, collected by Dr. Harry Smith in 1922 from Chosojo of Sikang (western Szechuan now) (Field Number 4641,). The species is characterized by bearing small few-lobed leaves papillose-glaucous on the under surface. Dr. Stern, after seeing a photograph of the type, considers it identical with P. suffruticosa. It remains to be an imperfectly known or doubtful species until the type-specimen is available for careful examination.

1 a. Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews var. spontanea Rehder in Journ. Arn. Arb., I. 193 (1920); Man. Cult. Trees & Shrubs, 1st Ed., I. 215 (1927), 2nd Ed., 5th Print. 205 (1951).. F. C. Stern in Journ. Roy. Hort. Soc., LXVIII. 124 (1943); Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 43 (1946).Shensi Yen-an Hsien (W. Y. Hsia, H3519).This spontaneous variety is a dwarf shrub with suborbicular leaflets which are only unequally trilobed with usually rounded sinuses. It has been found only in Shansi and northern Shensi. Hsia's specimen is very typical for this variety.

2. Paeonia szechuanica Fang, spec. nov.

Frutex, 1.1.5 metralis, trunco 5 mm. diam., cortice nigro-griseo in lamellas satis tenucs soluto; ramuli teretcs , viridiscentes usque leviter purpurascentes, basi squamis persistentibus obtectis. Folia alterna, chartacea, 9.12 cm. longa, bipinnata vel tripinnata, usque 3.4 juga; foliola ovata, obovata vcl oblongo-obovata, basi cuneata, superne 3-lobata; lobi 3-lobulati, lobulis acuminatis, laminis supra viridibus, subtus pallide-viridibus, nervis supra obscuris, subtus leviter prominentibus; perioluli foliorum terminalium 5.7 mm. longi, lateralium 2.3 mm. longi; petioli 5.6 cm. longi. Flos solitarius, terminalis, 12.13 cm. diametro; bracteae 3.5, virides, lineares, 3.5 cm. longae, 3 mm. latae; sepala 4.5, plerumque 3, viridia et leviter flava, late obovata, 2.5 cm. longa, 1.5 cm. lata, apicc abrupte acuminata; petala 9.12, rosea vel purpurea, obovata, 3.5.4 cm. longa, 4 cm. lata, apice rotundata, emarginataque, basi attenuata; stamina numerosa, antheris flavis, linearibus, 7.8 mm. longis, filamentis albis, linearibus, 5.15 mm. longis; carpella 4.6, purpurea, conica, glabra, 12 mm. longa, stylis brevibus, stigmate piano, recurvo; discus coriaceus, poculiformis, dimidium carpelli amplectens. Folliculi nigro-purpurei, bractcis et sepalis persistentibus suffulti.

NW. Szechuan: Ma-erh-kang Hsien, lower 0-mu-li-ting-ku, alt. 2650 ni., in thickets, on slopes on a river bank, shrub 0.6 metre high, carpels 5, conical, surrounded by a disk ait base, 29 April 1957, H. Lee, No. 70316 (Type, in the Herbarium of the Department of Biology, Szechuan University, Chengtu, Szechuan; syntypes, in the Herbarium of the Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Peking, and in the Herbarium of the South China Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Canton). Mo-crh-kang Hsien, Sung-kang, lower Ma-erh-ku, alt. 2650 m., shrub about 1 metre high, carpels 4, 11 May 1957, H. Lee, No. 70591. Ma-erh-kang Hsien, on a mountain slope near the Forestry Station, alt. 2700 m., shrub 1 metre high, carpels 5, 11 May 1957, H. Lee, No. 70647. Ma-erh-kang Hsien, Sung-kang, on slopes, alt. 2640 m., shrub 0.7 metre high, bark brownish, carpels 5, stigma pale yellow, slightly foetid, 18 May 1957, H. Lee, No. 70707. Ma-erh-kang Hsien, the foot of La-chu-ku, alt. 2750 m.; shrub 1.5 metre high, carpels 5, yellowish, follicles reddish, glabrous, with persistent sepals and styles, 19 May 1957, H. Lee, No. 71071. Ma-erh-kang- Hsien, alt. 3100 m., shrub 1 metre high, leaves margin purple, carpels with a fleshy disk follicles green and slightly red, 10 June 1957, H. Lee, No. 71387. Ma-erh-kang Hsien, right side of Chia-fei Bridge, alt. 2650 m., shrub about 2 metres high, follicles with persistent bracts and sepals, 14 July 1957, C. Y. Chang et H. F. Chow, No. 22811.

This distinct new species seems to be near Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews and the imperfectly known Paeonia decomposita Handel-Mazzetti, but differs from former not only in the smaller leaflets which are glabrous on both surfaces but also in glabrous carpels only the lower half of which are enclosed by the coriaceous cup-shaped disk, and from the latter in the small ovate leaflets not papillose-glaucous on the under surface.

(2) Subsect.- Delavayanae F. C. Stern, Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 1 (1946).

3. Paeonia Delavayi Franchet in Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr., XXXIII. 382 (1886); PI. Delavay. 31 (1889)..Huth in Engler, Bot. Jahrb., XIV. 273 (1892)..Finet et Gagnepain in Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr., LI. 524 (1905); Contrib. Fl. As. Or., I. 221 (1905), excl. var..Diels in Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinb., VI. 97 (1912)..Ball in Gard. Chron., Ser. 3, LIII. 405, fig. 169 (1913). .Rehder et Wilson in Sargent, PI. Wilson., I. 318 (1913)..Grove et Forrest in Gard. Chron., Ser. 3, LXVIII. 97, fig. 41, 43, 44 (1920).Diels in Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinb., XVII. 122 (1922)..Rehder, Man. Cult. Trees & Shrubs, 1st Ed., 215 (1927), 2nd Ed., 5th Print., 205 (1951)..Handel-Mazzetti, Symb. Sin. VII (2). 266 (1931)..Bean, Trees & Shrubs, III. 265 (1933).- Chen, 111. Man. Chin. Trees & Shrubs. 1st Ed., 262(1937), 2nd Ed., 262 (1953)..F. C. Stern in Journ. Roy. Hort. Soc., LXVIII. 125 (1943); Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 44, fig. (1946) . Hu, Handb. Econ. PI. I (1). 345 (1955).Paeonia Delavayi var. atropurpurea Schipczinsky in Not. Syst. Herb. Hort. Bot. Petrop. II. 47 (1921).

S. W. Szechuan S. Muli (T. T. Yu. 5428); Doola, Tsa-wa-rung (C. W. Wang, 65523); Dzcr-nar, Tsa-wa-rung (C. W. Wang, 66335).

Yunnan: Yun-ning Hsien (T. T. Yu. 5336); Li-kiang Hsicn (C. W. Wang, 70907; T. T. Yu. 15016; R. C. Chins, 20438, 22192, 30071, 30175 & 30987; K. M. Feng, 2496); Ho-king Hsicn (K. C. Ching, 24191 & 24365); Ta-li Hsien (R. C. Ching. 22954); Soo-roo-la, Kung-shan Hsicn (formcriy known as Cham-pu-lung) (C. W. Wang, 66617); Teching Hsien (formerly known as A-tun-tze) (C. W. Wang, 70211; K. M. Feng, 5765); Chung-tien Hsicn (T. T. yh, 11389, 14915); En route from Cliung-tien Hsien to An-nan-chang (K. M. Fens, 938).

This species was discovered in Likiang Hsien, northeastern Yunnan and is easily recognised by its red flowers usually about 10 cm. in diameter, surrounded by a large persistent involucre consisting of 5 suborbicular sepals and 8 to 12 ovate or lanceolate bracts. Its range of distribution extends northward to southwestern Szechuan and westward to northern and central Yunnan. This species is usually found in thickets or under forests at 2600 to 3600 metres in altitude.

4. Paeonia lutea Delavay ex Franchet in Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr., XXXIII. 382 (1886); Franchet, PI. Delavay. 32 (1889)..Huth in Engler, Bot. Jahrb. XIV. 272 (1892)..J. D. Hooker in Curtis's Bot. Mag., CXXVII. t. 7788 (1901)..Lemoine in Rev. Hort. Belge, XXIX. 177, fig. 26 (1903)..Raffill in Gard. Chron., Ser. 3, XXXV. 372 (1904).Diels in Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinb., VI. 229 (1912)..Bean, Trees & Shrubs Hardy Brit. Isl., 3rd Ed., II. 121 (1921). Rehder, Man. Cult. Trees & Shrubs, 1st Ed., 215 (1927), 2nd Ed., 5th Print. 205 (1951)..Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinb., XVII. 191, 206 (1930). Handel-Mazzetti. Symb. Sin. VII (2). 266 (1931); in Act. Hort. Gothob., XIII. 40 (1939) . Chen 111. Man. Chin. Trees & Shrubs, 1st Ed., 262 (1937), 2nd Ed., 262 (1953)..F. C. Stern in Journ. Roy. Hort. Soc.. LXVIII. 125 (1943); Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 46(1946).. Hu, Handb. Econ. PI. I (1). 345, fig. 62 (1955).

Paeonia Delavayi Franchet var. lutea (Franchet) Finet et Gagnepain in Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr., LI. 524 (1904); Contrib. Fl. As. Or., 221 (1905).Lemoine in Rev. Hort., 1906, p. 14, tab..Schipczinsky in Not. Syst. Herb. Hort. Bot. Petrop., 11. 47 (1912)..Marquand in Journ. Linn. Soc., Bot. Ser., XLVIII. 158 (1929).Paeonia Delavayi var. lutea forma superba Lemoine in Rev. Hort., 1906, p. 14, tab. Paeonia lutea var. superba Hort. ex Gard. Chron., Ser. 3, XLIV. 50, tab. (1908). Paeonia lutea var. superba Lemoine ex , Chen, 111. Man. Chin. Trees & Shrubs, 1st Ed., 262 (1937); 2nd Ed., 26.2 (1953).

Yunnan: Li-kiang Hsien (R. C. Chins, 20595); Ching-tung Htsien (T. T. Yu, 10470); Wu-yen, Te-ching Hsten (formerly known as A-tun-tze) (T. T. Yu, S^5J);Chung-den Hsien (T. T. Yu. 11247, 13500 & 13581; K. M. Fens. 885 & v387); Peng-tze-lan, wei-hsi Hsien (T. T. Yu, 8197; K. M. Feng, 4220 & 4230).

This species is very near P. Delavayi Franchet, but differs in the yellow flowers and small involucre consisting of 5 to 3 sepals and 4 bracts. It grows in thickets at 2400 to 3400 metres in altitude.

P. Forrestii [Paeonia Forrestii R. E. Arnold in Gard. Chron., ser, 3, LXXXVI, 402 (1929)] was described by R. E. Arnold as a near ally of P. lutea and differs from the latter species in the somewhat larger flowers and the greyish-green or bluish-grey leaves. The writer has not seen any specimen of that species and just keep the name here.

5. Paeonia Potanini Komarov in Not. Syst. Herb. Hort. Bot. Petrop., 11. 7 (1921).. Schipczinsky in Not. Syst. Herb. Hort. Bot; Petrop., II. 47 (1921).F. C. Stern in Journ. Roy. Hort. Soc., LXVIII. 125 (1943); Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 48 (1946).Paeonia Delavayi Franchet var. angustiloba Rehder et Wilson in Sargent, PI. Wilson., I. 318 . (1913).Bailey, Stand. Cycl. Hort., V. 2434 (1916)..Rehder, Man. Cult. Trees & Shrubs, 1st Ed., 215 (1927), 2nd Ed., 5th Print., 205(1951)..Trees & Shrubs, III. 265 (1933), Chen, Ill. Man. Chin. Trees & Shrubs, 1st Ed.. 262 (1937), 2nd Ed., 262 (1957)..Bean. Paeonia angustiloba (Rehder et Wilson) Stapf, mss. in Kew Herb. ex F. C. Stern, Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 48 (1946), mentioned as a syn.

S. W. Szechuan: Muli (T. T. Yu. 14147).

N. W. Yunnan: Likiang Hsien (C. W. Wang, 70489: T. T. Yu, 5163 & 8107).

Dr. F. C. Stern, after seeing the type of P. Potanini, considers it being identical with P. Delavayi var. angustiloba and took up Komarov's specific epithet as the valid name. I am following him in keeping this identification.

This species is near P. Delavayi but differs in the narrower lobes of the leaf and the comparatively smaller flowers with shorter and narrower bracts. The distribution of the species ranges from the type-locality in western Kang-ting Hsien southward to northeastern Yunnan. It is found in thickets at 2400 to 3000 metres in altitude but nowhere common.

5 a. Paeonia Potanini Komarov forma alba (Bean) F. C. Stern, Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 49, cum fig. (1946).Paeonia Delavayi var. alba Bean, Trees & Shrubs, III. 265 (1933). This form was discovered in Likiang Hsien, northeastern Yunnan and differs from the type in the white flowers. I have not seen any specimen for this form.

5 b. Paeonia Potanini Komarov var. trollioides (Stapf ex F. C. Stern) F. C. Stern in Journ. Roy. Hort. Soc., LXVIII. 125 (1943); Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 50, cum fig. (1946). Paeonia trollioides Stapf ex F. C. Stern in Journ. Roy. Hort. Soc., LVI. 77 (1931); in New Flora & Silva, III. 279, c.ic. (1931).Paeonia Forrestii trollioides Saunders in Nat. Hort. Mag., Washington, XIII. 200, t. (1934).

S. W. Szechuan: S. Muli (T. T. Yu, 5560); wa-chin-sze, S. Muli (T. T. Yu, 6003),

Yunnan: Wen-pc-shan, Likiang Hsien (T. T. Yu, S143a); Shaping-szc, Likiang Hsien (T. T. Yu, 5/60); Fang-tze-lan, Wei-hsi Hsien (T. T. Yu, 8794).

This variety differs from the type in yellow flowers. Its distribution is confined to southwestern Szechuan and Yunnan, usually in thickets at 2500 to 3000 metres in altitude.

6. Paeonia Yunnanensis Fang, spec.nov

Frutex usque 80 cm. altus; caule terete, viridi, glabro; ramuli teretes, viridescentes. Folia akerna, chanacea, biternata; foliola ovata vel oblongo-ovata, basi folioli terminalis obtusa, foliolorum lateralium obliqua, glabra, 8.12 cm. longa, 4.6 cm. lata, antice 2.5-lobularia, lobulis obtusis, margine leviter sinuata, apice acuminata, supra viridia, subtus pallide-viridia, costa media ct ncrvis lateralibus utrinsccus 6.7 supra leviter depressis, subtus prominentibus; petioli teretes, 10.16 cm. longi; petioluli foliolorum terminalium 2.4 cm. longi, foliolulorum lateralium 2.5 mm. longi. Flos solitarius, terminalis, 16 cm. diam.; bracteae viridcs, lineares; sepala obovata; petala alba vel rubescenda, oblongo-obovata, 6 cm. longa, apice obtusa, leviter emarginata et sinuata; stamina numerosa; carpella conica, dense flavo-tomentosa, stylis brevibus, stigmate piano purpurascente, recurvo; discus carnosus, poculiformis, basem carpellorum includens. Folliculi ignoti.

Yunnan: Li-kiang Hsien, Wen-pe-shan, alt. 2500 m., shrub 80 cm high, flowers white, slightly reddish, 13 April 1937, T. T. Yu, No. 8143 (Type, in the Herbarium of the Kunming Station, Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Kunming, Yunnan).This new species is characterized by the large flowers with densely yellow-tomentose carpels and biternate leaves consisting of ovate or oblong-ovate leaflets.

(II) Sect. Paeon DC. Prodr. I. 65 (1924).

(2) Subsect. Foliolatae F. C. Stern, Stud. Gen. Paeonia, I (1946).

7. Paeonia Mairei Leveille in Bull. Acad. Intern. Geogr. Bot. Lc Mans. XXV. 42 (1915). .Handel-Mazzetti in Act. Hort. Gothob., XIII. 38 (1939) (PI. Sin. XXXIII. 38).P. C. Stern in Journ. Roy. Hort. Soc., LXVIII. 128 (1943); Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 79 (1946).Paeonia bifurcata Schipczinsky in Not. Syst. Herb. Hort. Bot. Petrop., I (7). 3 (1920).

Szechuan: Li Hsien (formerly known as Li-fan Hsien) (C. Ho, v2388); An Hsien (W. K. Hu, 13357, 13435 St 13507); Pao-hsing Hsien (formerly known as Moupine or Mupin) (T. T. Yu, s006); Tien-chuan Hsien (K. L. Chu, 2400 & 2407; H. L. Tsiang, 33937; W. P. Fans, W. K. Hu el class, 51.860 & 51.1141}; Luting Hsien (H. L. Tsiang, 37902; D. P. Ho, 44173); Mount Omei (W. P. Fang et class. 20512).

This species was discovered by E. E. Maire from Yunnan and recently has been found in Szechuan province from the east, at the border of Hupeh and Szechuan, to the west, Kang-ting Hsien and the border of Szechuan and Kansu. It usually grows in open situation in thickets about 2500 to 3000 metres in altitude, flowering at the end of May to the beginning of June. It differs from other species in the stem bearing a single flower and large elliptic leaflets which are acuminate to caudate at the apex.

7 a. Paeonia Mairei Leveille forma oxypetala (Handel-Mazzetti) Fang, comb. nova,

Paeonia oxypetala Handel-Mazzetti in Anzeig. Akad. Wiss. Wien Math. Natur. LVII. 265 (1920) (PI. Nov. Sin. p. 1); Symb. Sin. VII (2). 265 (1931).. F. C. Stern in Journ. Roy. Hort. Soc.. LXVIII. 128 (1943); Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 80, fig. (1946).. Wu, Handb. Econ. PL I (1). 346 (1955)..Syn. nov.Differt a typo petalorum apicibus brevi-acutis. SW.Szechuan: Shih-mien Hsien (C. C. Hsieh. 39787, 39849,39934, 40153, 40068. 40200 & 41340). Paeonia oxypetala was first described by Dr. Handel-Mazzetti from a single specimen (Field no. 1735) collected by himself in 1914 from Ta-liang-shan Range, east of Si-chang Hsien (formerly known Ning-yuen Fu). In 1955 flowering specimens were collected by C. C. Hsieh, from Shih-mien Hsien, situated north of Si-chang Hsien and from the same mountain range as the type. They agree with Dr. Handel-Mazzetti's species. As well as Leveille's species, P. Mairei, in essential characters, but with shortly acute apices of the petals. Therefore I consider Handel-Mazzetti's plant representing only a form of P. Mairei.

This form grows usually under or near forests in moist places at an altitude of 2000 to 2500 metres.

8. Paeonia obovata Maximowicz in Mem. Acad. Sci. St..Pctersb. IX. 29 (1859) (Prim. Fl. Amur.)..Fr. Schmidt in Mem. Acad. Sci. St.-Petersb. Ser. 7, XII. 109 (1868)..Baker in Gard. Chron., N. Ser. XXI. 779 (1884)..Forbes et Hemsley in Journ. Linn. Soc., London, Bot. Ser. XXIII. 22 (1886) (Ind. Fl. Sin. I. 22)..Huth in Engler, Bot. Jahrb., XIV. 266 (1891)..Maximowicz in Bull. Acad. Sci. St.-Petersb. XXXI. 13 (1887); in Mel. Bid., XII. 416 (1893). .Korshinsky in Act. Hort. Petrop., XII. 302 (1892) .Huth in Bull. Herb. Boiss., V. 1095 (1897)..Boissier in Bull. Herb. Boiss., VII. 601 (1899).Komarov, Fl. Mansh, 11. 226 (1903).. Ulbrich in Fedde, Repert. Spec. Nov. Reg. Veg., Bcih. XII. 367 (1922).Komarov, Fl. URSS., VII. 27 (1937).F. C. Stern in Journ. Roy. Hort. Soc., LXVIII. 128 (1943); Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 74 (1946).. Tsui, Synop. Econ. PI. N. China, 91,(1953).- Hu, Handb. Econ. Pi, I (-1). 346 (1955).

Paeonia Wittmanmana Finet et Gagnepain in Bull. Soc, Bot, Fr., LI, 525 (1904); Contrib, PL As. Or., I. 222 (1905)-Non Lindley. Paeonia obovata var. amurensis Schipczinsky in Not. Syst. Herb. Hort. Bot. Petrop. II. 44 (1921). Paeonia obovata var. australis Schipczinsky in Not. Syst. Herb. Hort. Bot. Petrop., II. 44 (1921). ? Paeonia obovata var. glabra Makino in Journ. Jap. Bot., V. 38 (1928)..Handel-Mazzetti in Act. Hort. Gothob., XIII. 37 (1939).

Kirin: An-tu Hsien (T. N. Liou, 3906).

Liaoning: Fu-yun Hsien (V. L. Chang, 196).

Hopei: Below Chi-boo-fun Ridge (W. T. Wang, 2531).

Shansi: without precise locality (T. Tang, 963).

Anhwei: Chiu-hwa-shan (Sun Yatsen Botanical Garden, Inst. Bot. Acad. Sin., Nanking, 6051).

Szechuan: Wu-shan Hsien (K. L. Chu, 1621); Nan-chuan Hsien (W. P. Fang, 1081).

This widely distributed Asiatic species is easily recognized by the obovate leaflets which are glaucous and sparsely villose or glabrescent on the lower surface. It is found growing at 1000 to 1500 metres in altitude.

9. Paeonia Willmottiae Stapf in Curtis' Bot. Mag., CXLII. t. 8667 (1916); in Gard. Chron., Ser. 3, LXV. 258, fig. 123 (1919); in Garden, LXXXIII. 256, fig. (1919), LXXXIV. 350, fig. (1920).- Hu, Handb. Econ. PI. I (1). 346 (1955).Paeonia obovata Maxim, var. Willmottiae (Stapf) F. C. Stern in Journ. Roy. Hort. Soc., LXVIII. 128 (1943); Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 76 (1946)..Syn. Nov.

Shensi: Kwan-shan, Lung Hsien (T. P. Wang, 4227); Shang Hisien (T.P. Wang, 16283).

NW Szechuan: Hei-shui Hsien (H. Lee et C. S. Chow, 73835); Mao Hsien (formerly known as Mao Chow) (C. Ho, 13120 & 13549); Li Hsien (formerly known as Li-fan Hsien) (C. Ho, 14264; S. S. Chang, 1464):

This species was described by Stapf from garden plants raised from seeds collected along the borders of Hupeh and Szechuan. After careful study of the specimens recently collected from Shensi and northwestern Szechuan, its characteristics are so constant and important that it seems better to retain it as a distinct species. The dense villosity and pubescence on the under surface of leaves, white flowers and attenuate carpels serve to distinguish it from P. obovata Maxim.

This species is usually seen in thickets or by forests in moist situations at 1600 to 2400 metres in altitude.

10. Paeonia lactiflora Pallas, Reise, HI. 286 (1776)..Handel-Mazzetti in Act. Hort. Gothob., XIII. 37 (1939) (PI. Sin. XXXIII. 37)..F. C. Stern, Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 91 (1946).. Tsui, Synop. Econ. PI. N. China, 91 (1953).- Hu, Handb. Econ. PI. I (1). 346 (1955).Paeonia officinalis Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch.,-1. 343 (1790)..Non Linn. emend. Willd. Paeonia albiflora Pallas, Fl. Ross. Descr. II. 92, t. 84 (1788).Andrews, Bot. Repos., I. t. 64 (1799), X. t. 612 (1810).Aiton, Hort. Kew., 2nd Ed., III. 316 (1811).DC. Syst. I. 392 (1817); Prodr., I. 66 (1824).Maximowicz in Mem. Acad. Sci. St.-Petersb., IX. 29, 468, 480 (1859) (Prim. Fl, Amur.)..Hancc in lourn. Bot., XVIII. 257 (1880), XX, 257 (1882)..Baker in Gard. Chron., N. Ser. XXI. 779 (1884)..Franchet, Fl. David., 23 (1884)..Forbes et Hemsley in Journ. Linn. Soc., London, Bot. Ser., XXIII. 21 (1886) (Ind. Fl. Sin. 1. 21)..Maximowicz, Enum. PI. Mongol., 31 (1889); Fl. Tangut., 28 (1889.).Lynch in Journ. Roy. Hort. Soc., XII. 437 (1890)..Komarov, Fl. Mansh., II. 224 (1903)..Finet ct Gagnepain in Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr.. LI. 526 (1904); Contrib. Fl. As. Or., I. 223 (1905)..Ulbrich in Fedde, Repert. Spec. Nov. Reg. Veg., Beih. XXII. 367 '(1922)..Handel-Mazzetti, Symb. Sin., VII (2). 265 (1931).Komarov, Fl. URSS. VIL 25 (1937).. Chen, 111. Man. Chin. Trees & Shrubs, 1st Ed., 263, fig. 94 (1937), 2nd Ed., 263, fig. 194 (1953).F. C. Stern in lourn. Roy. Hort. Soc.. LXVIII. 128 (1943).

Kirin: 0-mu Hsien (H. W. Kung, K1769); So-ren (F. P. Fu, 189); Mo-tien-ling, Lien-shan-kuan (P. Y.. Fu, Y. L. Chang et T. C. Chao, 1285):

Hopei: vicinity of Peking (C. S. Chang, 1756).

Shansi: Ping-lu Hsien (Y. Liu, 496).

Shantung: Lao-shan, Tsing-tau (C. Y. Chlao. 2739).

Shensi: Tai-pai-shan (T. N. Liou et p. C. Tsoong, 386).

Hupeh: Li-chuan Hsien (L. Y. Tai ct C. H. Chien. 916),

Szechuan: Pao-hsing Hsien (T. P. Soong, 38117 tc 38400).

This species is of comparatively wide distribution extending, from Siberia, Mongolia, China to Korea. It occurs in thickets or under forests at 2500 to 3000 metres in altitude.

11. Paeonia Yui Fang, spec. nov.

Herba 40.70 cm. alta, caulibus teretibus, viridibus, glabris. Folia alterna, coriacea, ternata vel biternata; foliola terminalia' 3-lobularia, lateralia 4-rarissime 3-lobularia; lamina obovata vel oblanceo-lata, 10.12 cm. longa, 3.5 cm. lata, glabra, supra viridia, subtus pallide-viridia, costa media cum nervis lateralibus utrinsecus 3.4 supra conspicuis, subtus elevatis; petioli communi pallide-virides, teretes, 7 cm. longi; petioluli foliolorum terminalium 5 cm. longi, lateralium 2.2.5 cm. longi. Flos axillaris, albus, 8 cm. diam.; bracteae foliaceae 3, lanceolatae vel oblanceolatac, 20.25 mm. longae, 6 mm. latae; sepala 3, obovata, 15 mm. longa, 12 mm. lata, apice rotundata vel truncata, emarginata vel 2-lobulata; petala plena, alba, obovata, 4.4.5 cm. longa, 2.2.5 cm. lata, exteriora apice emarginata vel lobulata, interiora apice sinuata; stamina numerosa, 2 cm. longa, filamentis purpureis, antheris flavis; carpella 4, conica, apice attenuata, dense flavo-hirsuta; styli breves, stig-mate purpureo recurvato." Folliculi ignoti.

Yunnan: Wei-hsi Hsien, Tao-jao, alt. 3200m, culrivated herb 40.70 cm. high, flowers white; 1 May 1937, T. T. Yu, No. 8223 (Type, in the Herbarium of Kunming Station, Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Kun-ming, Yunnan).

This new species resembles Paeonia Mairei Leveille and P. lactiflora Pallas in general appearance. However, it differs from both in coriaceous leaves with distinct veins and large flowers with hirsute carpels and double petals.

(4) Subsect. Dissectifoliae F. C. Stern, Stud. Gen. Paeonia, 1 (1946).

12. Paeonia Veitchii Lynch in Gard. Chron.. ser. 3, XLVI, 2, fig. 1 (1909).-Handel- Hort. Soc., LVI, 76 (1931)..Saunders in Nat. Hort. Mag., XIII. 233. t. (1934).

Szechuan: Ping-wu Hsien (W. P. Fang et S. F. Chang, 4217); Pao-hsing Hsien (formerly known as Mou-pine or Mupin) (T. P. Soong, 38544 & 39107).See plate!

This variety differs from the type chiefly in the bristly hairs on the midrib and nerves of both surfaces of leaves and on the petioles and petiolules.