[145] Figure7-1 Danjing Shan Peony Garden in Pengzhou, Sichuan

7 Xinan Cultivar Group

In this book, the "Xinan (Southwest)"includes Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Yunnan and Tibet. This region has very rich tree peony resources where wild tree peonies are diversely distributed with southwest Sichuan, mid-north Yunnan, west Guizhou and southeast of Tibet as important origin and diversity center.

7.1 General

7.1.1 Distribution

Tree peony is cultivated in most areas of southwest China, e. g. Pengzhou and Guangyuan in northwest Sichuan; Emei Mountain; Dianjiang County in Chongqing; Bijie, Zunyi, Anshun, Liupanshui, Guiyang, Duyun and etc. in Guizhou; Kunming, Wuding and the areas from Dali to Lijiang in Yunnan; and some temples in Lasa and other places of Tibet. Pengzhou in Sichuan is an important cultivation center among all these areas (Fig. 7-1, 7-2,7-5).

P.lutea is loved by people living in Weining, Hezhang, Nayong and Shuicheng located in the west ||k;4 of Guizhou. It is planted around their houses as decoration, and its roots are used as medicine when someone is ill (such as dizziness of the old).

7.1.2 History

The cultivation of Xinan tree peony cultivars began from Tang Dynasty. It was popular early in Wu Dai, and throve in Nan Song. However, the extent of popularity varies from place to place, and the difference among them is significant. Tianpeng (Currently Pengzhou, Sichuan) is the area that first began to cultivate tree peony. It is said that in Tang Dynasty there was a Buddhist Monk called Jin Tou Tuo who cultivated lots of tree peonies in Yongning Yard (Today' s Jinhua Temple) located in Danjing Mountain of Tianpeng. Du Fu settled down in Chengdu in Shangyuan Year (760 AC). He made a special trip to Pengzhou to view tree peonies accompanied by Gaoshi, and wrote a poem Hua Di. From Wu Dai, Chengdu tree peonies began to thrive. According to the record in Shu Zong Ji, during the Former Shu Period "the uncle of the king, Xu Yanqiong, heard that one tree peony was planted in the temple of Dongcheng Village, Qinzhou many years ago. He had some people transplant it. ...It is really a painful duty to transport the tree peony back to the villa. When Meng was in charge of the garden, he widely planted tree peonies in Xuanhua Garden and rename it as Tree Peony Garden.... After Shu State was annexed, the plants were scattered into the common people's gardens" (Xue F. X , Bozhou Mudan Shi). In addition, Mao Ting Ke Hua written by Huang Xiufu of Song Dynasty also recorded the historical fact that Xu Yanqiong

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Figure7-3 Peony growing on mountain in Dianjiang, Chongqing

Figure7-2 Longmen Mountain Peony Garden in Pengzhou

Figure7-4 Peony growing on mountain in Dianjiang, Chongqing

Figure7-5 Jinpeng Peony Producing Base in Pengzhou, Sichuan

had ever introduced tree peony from Qinzhou, and pointed out that it has red flowers. At that time, Qinzhou was under the rule of Former Shu. This paper also indicated that "tree peonies in Xishu were introduced from Jingluo and Liangyang by the king of Former Shu". Jingluo is today' s Luoyang, and Liangyang may generally refer to Henan and Shaanxi (Zhao Y. M. et al., 1996). In general, during the Wu Dai period, the origins of tree peonies in Chengdu are Tianshui, Gansu and Luoyang, Henan.

In Nan Song Dynasty, tree peony in Tianpeng was developed, which was due to the development of tree peonies in Chengdu, capital of Shu State. During late Bei Song Dynasty, tree peonies in Tianpeng were further developed. Song writer Lu You wrote that "In Zhongzhou, tree peonies in Luoyang were the best, but in Shu State, those of Tianpeng were the best"in Tianpeng Mudan Pu (Lu Pu for short herein after). He also recorded that "the residents Song, Zhang and Cai in Zhongzhou during Chongning Period (1102-1106) and Yang in Shizitan during Xuanhe Period (1120-1125) often bought new cultivars from Luoyang. Thanks to their introduction, tree peonies from Luoyang dispersed there, and family business of tree peonies cultivation began to develop. The ones who had interest in flowers all try their best to cultivate good cultivars, and as a result the flowers of Tianpeng became the best ones in Liangchuan Region."Lu You also described the pomp when people viewing flowers in Tianpeng as: "Tianpeng is call little Xijing (Luoyang was call Xijing in Bei Song Dynasty) because there is the tradition of loving flowers and some families even have up to one thousand plants which is looked as the relique of Luoyang. In the blooming season, people ranging from officers to common residents all often set up tilts in the place where flowers are vigorous. The scene of flower viewing is very busy and joyful. The peak season is Qingming Day and Hanshi Day period."From this description we can imagine the exciting scene when people enjoy and celebrate the blossom of tree peony is not inferior to that of Luoyang. Besides the cultivars of Luoyang, Lu Pu also recorded 34 cultivars of Shu (Pengzhou). In addition, according to Peng Zhou Xian Zhi (1985 edition), during the some 20 years from Chongning to Xuanhe (1102-1125), besides the families recorded in Lu Pu, some other families including Li, Liu, and Mu in Sanjing, Su in the town, and some Li families in the West of the County are most famous. They also built gardens, kiosks and nursery gardens in big scale. There were also so many small families that we can' t know all their names". With the town as center, the cultivation area were large, eastwards

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Figure7-6 Wannian Temple Peony Garden in Emei Mountain, Sichuan

to Mengyang, westwards to Huajie and Chongning and northwards to Bengkou. Flower cultivation, viewing and presentation were very popular among the common people. This is the peak of Tianpeng tree peonies and also the beginning when Xinan tree peonies came into being. After Yuan Dynasty, Pengzhou' s tree peony cultivation declined gradually. At the end of Ming Dynasty and the beginning of Qing Dynasty, most of tree peonies in Tianpeng were distributed in temples in Qingcheng and Jiazhou, Guanxian, Wenjiang, Chongqing, Xindu, Mianzhu, and especially in the gardens in Chengdu and the nurseries nearby. Here temples in Jiazhou refer to the temples and fanes in Emei Mountain in Leshan, among them Wannian Temple is the most important one and most tree peonies on Emei Mountain grew there (S. W. Xu' s Shu Di Mudan Kao, 1993) (Fig.7-6). The Qing Jiaqing edition of Peng Xian Zhi also recorded that there were some old tree peonies which were more than one Zhang (Chinese unit, about 3m) high in the relic of Jinhua Temple in Danjing Mountain, but they were lost at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Only some less than 10 cultivars such as white tree peony, purple tree peony, 'Zhuangyuan Hong' and "Zui Yangfei" were distributed here and there.

In Chongqing, tree peonies cultivation centered Taiping Town, Dianjiang County where cultivation is mainly for medical purposes, but the main cultivar ' Taiping Hong' has high ornamental value. By now, tree peony cultivation has a history of more than 250 years. Cultivation area is above 100 hm², and annual output of Danpi (tree peony' s root bark) is more than 100 tons which was exported to Southeast Asia. Other medical-used cultivation areas are Nanchuan and Puling (Fig. 7-3, 7-4).

In Yunnan, there is one tree peony which was personally planted by Emperor Hui, Zhu Y.W., in Ming Dynasty in Zhengxu Temple in Shizi Mountain of Wuding County.

After 1949, Xinan Tree peonies were developed gradually. Pengzhou City (Former Pengxian County) began to develop tree peony for medical purposes, and seedlings and seeds are introduced from Heze and the neighbor county. Cultivation area was expanded to 93 Mu (A Chinese unit of area, 6.2 hm² or so) and plant quantity reached millions until 1979. In 1981, they decided to develop ornamental tree peony and organize Tianpeng Tree Peony Society. In 1985, tree peony was designated as city flower, and the first Pengzhou tree peony Exhibition was organized.

Dianjiang County of Chongqing was designated as the national production base of Danpi by the Ministry of Commerce of the People' s Republic of China. Mingyue Mountain in Dianjian County is more than 50 km long, and people in 5 towns located along the mountain all plant tree peony. In April 2004, the first Tree Peony Festival was organized. In March 28, 2001, the second Huaxia Tree Peony Festival & Economic and Trade Fair was successfully organized.

Since 1990, Wuding Shizi Mountain Scenic Spot in Yunnan Province have introduced Zhongyuan tree peonies and other cultivars from Lijiang, Zhaotong, Baoshan, Lanzhou etc. and built Shizi Mountain Tree Peony Garden. In addition, Tree Peony Pool was built in Heilongtan Park in Lijiang, Yunnan, and proliferate -flower cultivars 'Lijiang Fen''Lijiang Zi' was planted there.

7.1.3 Cultivar Constitution

Currently, most study on Xinan tree peony cultivars only focused on Pengzhou tree peony. Judging from its history, Pengzhou tree peony has three origins: 1) Zhongyuan tree peonies, mainly Luoyang tree peonies; 2) Xibei tree peonies; and 3) Local tree peonies. Because of many times of mass introductions of Zhongyuan tree peonies, Zhongyuan tree peony influenced Pengzhou tree peony greatly. However, most traditional Pengzhou tree peony cultivars are tall and with blotches at the base of each petal which show the influence of Xibei tree peony cultivars. Hence, the

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traditional cultivars are mainly results of domestication, selection and cultivation of seedlings of the Zhongyuan tree peonies after they were introduced to the South, and some of them come from the crossbreeding with Xibei tree peonies. Although in the west region of Sichuan Province, wild tree peonies are distributed from the south to north and (P.decomposita) was cultivated a little in its origin area, by now no sign shows that they have direct influence on the cultivars.

Due to the frequent introductions from many places, the constitution of the cultivars changed. The objectives of introduction include Zhongyuan tree peonies, Xibei tree peonies and ' Dan Feng' series. However, among the 260 cultivars of Zhongyuan tree peonies introduced during 1986-1987, seldom of them are preserved and only ' Dan Feng' series performs well. Xibei cultivars can adapt better to the mountainous environment, and they are important plasm resources for the future breeding and cultivar improvement.

The status of introduction in Middle of Yunnan is similar to Pengzhou. More than 130 cultivars had been introduced in Wuding Shizi Monntain, most of them adapted badly or didn' t adapt at all. The lignification degree of the branches after antumn was low, and the dormant buds sprouted without leaves spreading in Dec., which influenced the flower bud formation of next year.Few cultivars such as ' Zhi Hong' etc adapted well. The flower bud formation rate of 'DahuHong', 'ShanhuTai', 'GejinZi', 'ZiErqiao', 'Caihui', ' Shou' an Hong',' Shunii Zhuang' etc were high without the influence of wanmer winter. 'LijangZi' was the best while 'Lijiang Fen' was worse in the cultivars introduced from Lijiang.

Single petals type ones in cultivars, introduced from Xibei tree peony adapted better (Li Z.Y. 2003).

7.1.4 Development Prospect

Among the Xinan tree peony cultivars, Pengzhou tree peony and Dianjiang tree peony are both characteristic cultivar groups. They are highly evolved and have many proliferation from cultivars; flora organs are well developed; plants are relatively tall; flowers are large; they are resistant to the humidity and hot and suitable to pot cultivation.

Thanks to the special climate-such as moist and with seldom sunshine, the flowers of tree poenies are abundant and plump and their colors are delicate and charming. With the natural mountain scenery as background, the beauty is peerless among all the tree peonies in China and they enchant all the viewers. Making use of the terrace and the temperature variance of different elevation, the flower season ranges from the middle April to the end of May, so it has a great development potential if combined with tourism.

How to restore the original scene of Pengzhou tree peonies and further develop it is also an important task in the future.

7.2 Cultivation Technique

7.2.1 Ecological Habits and Growth Characteristics

Ecological Habits

The distributon areas of Xinan tree peonies are often mountains and highlands, and the ecological environments vary greatly.

Pengzhou region, the main cultivated areas of Xinan tree peonies, located on the edge of the mountains at the north-west of Sichuan Basin, and its elevation is above 500m. The highest point of Danjing Mountain can reach 1,114m above the sea level, and the cultivated areas in Dianjiang, Chongqing are at 400-800m elevation. It is on the north edge of middle subtropical zone, rainy and humid, warm in the winter and hot in the summer. In this region annual average temperature is about 16.0°C (Dianjiang is 17.3°C).The absolute minimum air temperature is usually above ^6.0°C. Annual precipitation is some 1,200mm. > 10°C accumulated temperature is around 5,000°C (Dianjiang is 5,400°C).Comparing to other cultivated areas, Pengzhou has less sunshine (less than 1,200h in mountainous area). Soil types of Pengzhou is mountain yellow soil and tide soil (plain area), while Dianjiang's soil type is mainly purple soil. Pengzhou and Dianjiang tree peonies can adapt to the humidity and hot climate, and belong to hot and humid ecotype.

In the Lijiang region, of Yunnan which is at about 2,500 elevation, the growing season is fairly long and the climate is mild and humid (the annual average temperature of Lijiang is 12.6°C)In the middle part of Yunnan Kunming, is at about 1891m elevation, the annual average temperature is 15.6°C and the annual precipitation is about 1,142.9mm, While Wuding Shizi Mountain's elevation is some 2,240m, the annual average temperature is 12°C and the annual precipitation is 1,104.1mm, belongs to subtropics monsoon climate. Its characteristics are as follows: the distinction is obvious between the dries and the rains, the difference in temperature of the year is little and without very high temperature in summer, which is quite different from those of Pengzhou, Sichuan. The tree peonies growing here belong to warm and humid ecotype.

Growth and Development Characteristics

Basically, Xinan tree peonies have similar growth and development characteristics to Zhongyuan tree peonies and Xibei tree peonies, but due to the significant difference of ecological environment, they have some obvious peculiarities as follows:

—Xinan tree peonies are tall, vigorous and mostly upright, but branches are sparse and the branch of the year is fairly long. The grown up plants are usually 1.0-1.5 m high, some of them can even reach above 2.0m, most of them belong to tall and medium stem types, and the angles between two branches range from 30° to 50'. The leaves are big with the full length of 40cm.

—The extent of evolvement is high. 77.8% of Pengzhou cultivars are double flower, and 57% of double flower cultivars belong to proliferate form. The flowers are with diameters of 19-25 cm, and the biggest ones can even reach 35cm. Petals are many. Except the single cultivars, the average quantity is 500 and the largest one can be up to 880 (' Yanzhi Lou'). Due to the long time of floral bud differentiation, the total quantity of floral organs of proliferate form can reach more than one thousand.

—The root system is shallow but well developed, which distributes in the soil 20cm below the earth's surface, and it belongs to shallow root system.

—The plants are sturdy and resistant to diseases and pests, and the kinds of diseases and pests that jeopardizing perennially are few.

7.2.2 Propagation

Xinan tree peonies include cultivars for both medical and ornamental purposes. To medical cultivation, sexual reproduction

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is often used, but to the highly double cultivars, dividing is also used. To ornamental cultivars, dividing is the most popular method, while grafting propagation needs further popularization. Specific time and cultivation techniques depend on the local situation.

7.2.3 Cultivation and Care

Open Field Cultivation

Site Selection Xinan tree peonies can endure humid and hot climate. Their root systems are shallow but well developed. In the flat, the place with low water level, good drainage, deep, porous and fertile sandy loam should be selected. To heavy soil, soil improvement is needed. The climate of the mountains at medium to low elevation and the wide valley between the mountains is mild and cool which are suitable to the cultivation of tree peonies. Tree peonies like sunny environment and can also endure a little shade, but over shade is not preferred in the place where sunshine is not enough, while in the open place a little shade is better.

Planting Planting time In Pengzhou, the period from the end of September to the middle of October is suitable. If planting at this time, the root systems can recover quickly and root earlier, so that the plants can resume growth rapidly in the next spring. Planting and dividing should be under taken at the same time.

Planting method: Before planting, in order to raise the survival ratio, dry the plants for two days after they have been dug out of the soil and plant after the root systems are a little soft. To mass cultivation, we should firstly dig the field deeply, apply enough base fertilizer, and then dig holes and plant. Plant space is usually 1.5-2.0m. The size of the hole depends on the size of the plant. The often used size is 40cm in width and 30-40cm in depth. When planting, spread the roots, earth up layer by layer, and prevent the plant from being bedded too deep into the soil. After planting, water thoroughly and make the root and soil integrating closely.

Care

Plants care: After planting, trim off plenty of branches to raise survival ratio and promote the growth of new branches. When trimming, remember to select and keep some main branches, and to the common cultivars, 5-7 main branches should be kept, but the other unwanted ones must be pruned. After the plants shedding their leaves in the fall, we should prune and trim the plants properly.

Soil management: Most places of the southwest have plenty of rain, but they have the difference of dry and rainy seasons. In dry season adequate watering to keep the soil moist is necessary, while in rainy season drainage and control of water should be noted to ensure the soil is not too wet. According to the rule of tree peony' s growth and development, fertilize adequately after germination in the early spring, after blooming and before the winter. The former two times mainly use fast-release fertilizer, while the last one uses more long-effect fertilizer.

Cultivation and Weeding: Summer and autumn are the seasons when weeds grow fast. Weeding and ploughing timely after rains, are necessary to prevent the weeds from contesting with tree peony for nutrition.

Pot Planting

Xinan tree peonies are also suitable to pot planting. The Pengzhou Danjinghong series, e.g. 'Yanzhi Lou'and 'Jinyao Lou', and cultivars of Chongqing Dianjiang, e.g. ' Taiping Hong',

all can be planted in pots. If the proportion of nutritive soils and maintenance are correct, the flowers growing in pots can provide good ornamental effect with big and bright-colored flowers.

Choose the 4-year-old plants with sturdy floral buds and plant them in pots in the early October. The high temperature in the fall benefits the recovery and growth of roots and the blossom in the next spring. Before bloom, centralize pot plantings into the nursery to maintain together.

If plants are used to flower forcing during the Spring Festival, chilling at 0°C for 16 - 20 days in November is necessary. Then put the plants into greenhouse and increase temperature gradually. Before germination, treat the buds with gibberellin. Spray 3-6 times a day according to the climate, and keep relative humidity at 70% - 80%. During the early period, give 2-3 hours compensatory light every day, and during the middle and late period, keep 8-9 hours illumination a day. The study result showed that the cultivar ' Taiping Hong' performed well and ' Pengzhou Zi' took second place (Xiao Q.G.,Liu T.E.et al, 2000).

Illness and Pests Control

The common illnesses in Pengzhou etc. are grey mildew and red spot disease. In Chongqing, rhizoid blotch can be found in tree peonies for medical purpose. Pests include Zeuzera coffeae Nietner etc., but the damage they caused is not very serious. Some common diseases are delineated below.

Grey Mildew Grey mildew is a common illness of tree peony, and its damage is serious in Luoyang of Henan and Pengzhou of Sichuan etc.

Symptom and pathogen: It can infect leaves, stems and flowers. Symptom has two types. One type is that the blotches on leaves are round or erose which often happen on the tine or brim of the leaves, and are brown and purplish brown with irregular rings. When it is humid, conidia of pathogen which look like grew mildew grow out. The lesions on the stems are brown-colored and often soft and rotten which make the stems fall down. When the flowers are infected by this disease, they also turn brown, soft and rotten, produce grey mildew-liked things, and the infected parts sometimes produce black grains which are the sclerotium of pathogeny fungus. The pathogeny of the above symptom is Botrytis paeoniae Oudem. The second type of symptom is that the fringe of leaves appears brown blotch, and the surface has wheel-liked ripple; stalks of leaves and flowers turn soft, and then the bark rots. The pathogeny of this symptom is Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr.

Regularity of this disease: The germ was transmitted by sclerotium which lived through the winter in soil with infected plants. It seriously happens in the field which was cultivated in sequent years. Hot and rainy whether is suitable to the development and spread of conidiospores. When the conidiospores touch the host, they grow out germ tube and invade the host if it is moist. Overuse of nitrogenous fertilizer, too dense planting, humidity, lack of light, tender and weak growth all make plants liable to be affected. In Pengzhou, there are two peak time of this disease. One is from the end of March to the whole blossom period, when germ infects the buds, the joint part of new and old branches, and the flowers. Among them, the joint part of new and old branches is most liable to be infected. Another peak time is in the fall when the branches, leaves and buds are damaged. The infected places are covered by a layer of thing which looks like grey mildew.

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Prevention and cure:

—The planting of tree peony can not be too dense. Pay attention to drainage after rain.

- Trim off infected parts in time, and centralize them to burn out.

—Rotation of plants is feasible in the seriously affected areas, or treat the soil and dig deeply before planting.

—Spray 75% chlorothalonil (daconil) (600 times), or 70% thiophanate-methyl (1,000 times) when plants are infected. Bordeaux mixture can also be used to prevent and cure.

Rhizoid Blotch It is the main disease during seedling period, and the infected ratio once was 66.1% in Chongqing's cultivated areas for medical purpose, e.g. Nanchuan, Puling etc.

Symptom and pathogen: The stems of the seedlings appear water stain like spots which will extend up and down the stems, and the blotches turn to brown gradually and shrink and sink. The leaves wilt, and the roots rot quickly. After two days, the infected parts appear white reticulate mycelium. After one week, brown and blackish brown sclerotium grains can be seen in the soil. The plants are easy to fall down. The pathogen is Rhizoctonia solani Ku'hn.

Regularity of this disease: The disease mainly happens after

the seedlings come up from the earth and before lignification of stems. The seedlings are seriously infected in the spring when it is overcast and rainy and the soil temperature is 16-22°C. With the increase of the extent of lignification, the damage of the disease decrease. Pathogen live through the winter as mycelial and sclerotium in soil.

The extent of damage of this disease is related to not only soil temperature and humidity, but also the former crops cultivated on the field. Wasteland, burned soil, ripe and maize field is less liable to happen this disease, but the fields which had ever planted vegetable, tobacco, large-headed atractylodes (Rhizoma of Atractylodes macrocephala), red sweet potato, potato and etc. are seriously influenced.

Prevention and cure: Choose wasteland as nursery and avoid monocropping. Drainage of the field should be paid more attention. Garden soil should be sterilized: mix 4-6g/m² PCNB and fine soil in the ratio 1:200 to pesticide soil, and apply to the seed bed before seeding. Before seedling, irrigate thoroughly, but after the seedlings come up from the earth, water should be strictly controlled in 20 days. When the plants were infected, spray 50% amobam (1,000 times) or 50% (1,000 times).

[151] Hongyun Bai, Wuxing Yu

7.3 Major Cultivars of Xinan Cultivar Group

Single Form

'Hongyun Bai' Single form, light pink in bud, flowers shining, white and glistening when they are in full bloom. Flowers medium size (16cm x 6cm). Petals 2 layers, with pink tinge at base. Stamens normal, filaments light purplish red; carpels 5-6, discs purple, stigmas purplish red. Plants upright, high and big, up to more than 1.5m high. Branching vigorously, the stems of the year yellowish green tinted with purplish red, thick and strong. Large-sized long leaves, dense, leafletslS, lanceolate, thick, dark green; primary petioles long, dark green. Petiole sinus tinted with purplish red. Strong growth, shade-tolerant, shoots seldom, much flowered, petals are as shining and white as jade, with light rosy fragrance, early blooming, a good cultivar.

'Lu'yun Bai' is the same cultivar as 'Hongyun Bai'. 'Lu'yun Bai' Single form, light green in bud; flowers shining and white when they are in full bloom; flowers medium size (17cm x 8cm). Petals 2 layers; plants semi-patulous, up to 2.4m high, branching vigorously, the stems of the year tinted with light purplish red. ' Huang Lu Bai' Single form, light yellowish green in bud; flowers are shining and white when they are in full bloom. Flowers medium size(18cm x 8cm). Plants upright, above 1.5m in height, new branches tinted with purplish red. The above cultivars all belong to "Feng Dan" cultivar series.

'Wuxing Yu' Single form, white tinted with purplish red. Flowers small (13cm x 5cm), upright. Outer petals 2 layers, with reverse V-shaped bluish purple stripes at base to form a five-star pattern in the center of flower. Stamens seldom, filaments purplish red; discs closely enclosed by the base, dark purple; carpels 5, stigmas purplish red. Plants are semi-patulous, above 1.65m in height. New branches tinted with purplish red, thick and strong. Leaves dense, large-sized long leaves; leaflets 15, lanceolate, thick, dark green, tip acuminate, petioles long, petiole sinus tinted with red. A strong grower, shade-tolerant, early blooming, much flowered, with light rosy fragrance. It is rare due to its white color and purplish red five-star shaped stripes in the center of flower. An excellent cultivar.

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151 Xinan Cultivar Group (Single Form, Lotus Form, Crown Form)

Hongban Lou, Liushige

'Dianjiang Hong' Single form, red tinted with blue. Flowers medium size (16cm x 7cm), upright. Outer petals 2 layers, with purplish red blotches at base, fringe with radial stripes. Stamens many (315), filaments long, middle and lower parts of filaments dark purple; carpels 5, stigmas are narrow and crooked like hooks, dark purplish red, discs closely enclosed by the base, dark purplish red. Plants are semi-patulous. Branches of the year are thin and yellowish green. Large-sized round leaves; leaflets 9, lush and plump, tip drooping. Petioles round, petiole sinuses brownish red. Medium growth, mid-blooming, a good cultivar. It is planted not only for medical usage in Dianjiang region, Chongqing, but also for ornamental purposes.

'Pomo Zi' Lotus form, dark purple in bud, the color becomes lighter in full bloom. Flowers medium size (17cm x 12cm), upright. Petals 3-5 layers, outer petals big and wide, with blackish purple blotches at base, ruffled borders of inner petals. Pistils and stamens normal, filaments purplish red, discs dark purple, stigmas purplish red. Pedicels are soft with flowers hidden among leaves. Plants are semi-patulous, above 1.0m in height, new branches light yellowish green tinted with purplish red. Leaves are large-sized, round, aslant, dense, wide and fleshy, with dense fluff on back, surface salient or spoon-shaped. Petioles long, tinted with purplish red. A strong grower, shade-tolerant, shoots many, strong adaptability. Flowers with strong rosy fragrance. Mid-blooming, an excellent cultivar.

'Hongban Lou' Golden-circle form, purplish red, glistening. Buds ovate, flowers medium size (16cm x 8cm), upright or lateral drooping. Outer petals big, 2 layers, long obovate, with long blackish purple blotches at base; sparse inner petals. There is a layer of normal stamens between inner and outer petals. Filaments purplish red; carpels 5, discs and stigmas are both purplish red. Plants are almost upright and high. Large-sized round leaves, leaflets 9, lush and plump, dark green, wide obovate to nearly round, terminal leaflets divided, hairy on back, petiole sinuses tinted with purplish red. Vigorously growing, strong fragrance, mid-blooming, a good cultivar.

'Liushige' Crown form, white tinted with red. Buds ovate, flowers big (20cm x 14cm). Outer petals big, 2'layers, aslant, with purplish red blotches at base; inner petals are narrow and long, layer upon layer of inner petals raised. Stamens normal, filaments white, tinted with red at base; carpels 5, stigmas yellow, a little petaloid; discs red or purplish red. Leaf stalks stiff. Flowers bloom above leaves.

Plants are semi-patulous, new branches are light green. Small-sized round leaves, leaflets thin, a little involute, ovate or wide obovate, incised, tip acuminate, sparsely hairy on leaf back. Weak growth, but leaves are green and branches are beautiful, with a light fragrance, early blooming; flowers delicate, charming and lovely;an excellent cultivar.

'Yuyao Lou' Crown form, pink. Buds ovate, flowers small (14cm x 7cm), a little drooping. Outer petals many layers, wide obovate; inner petals are narrow, long and raised, with stamens remaining among petals, filaments purplish red. There is a layer of small membranous petals between inner and outer petals, fringe white. Carpels 9, degenerated or a little petaloid. Plants are semi-patulous. New branches are yellowish green tinted with purplish brown. Large-sized round leaves, leaflets wide obovate or elliptic, terminal leaflets 1-2 parted, petioles tinted with purplish red. Weak growth, shoots seldom, mid-blooming, a good cultivar.

152 (Proliferation Form) Xinan Cultivar Group

Pengzhou Zi, Zui Xishi

'Zui Xishi' Crown form or golden-circle form, pinkish white with red tinge. Flowers big size (20cm x 19cm), drooping or hidden under leaves. Petals of outer layers are wide and big, with purplish red blotches at base. Petals become smaller from outside to inside, stamen petaloid petals crumpled and in small broken bits, there are normal stamens among petals, filaments purplish red; carpels degenerated and become small, discs purple, stigmas purplish red. When in full bloom, the flowers are protuberant, but the center is sunken.

Breadth of coronal is relatively big, semi-patulous. New branches are long. Large-sized round leaves are aslant and a little sparse. Leaflets thick and coarse, dark green, with sparse fluff on back, petiole sinuses purplish red. Strong growth, high adaptability. Mid-blooming, an excellent cultivar.

'Pengzhou Zi' Lotus proliferation form, purplish red, glistening. Flowers medium to small size (15cm x 7cm), bloom above leaves. Outer petals of the lower-flowers 3-4 layers, with blackish purple blotches at base, inner layer of petals membranous (about more than 200), few stamens remaing among petals; the upper flowers with tens of big petals, with incomplete petaloid petals coming from stamens inside. Carpels 2 layers, 9-11, a little petaloid. Plants upright, up to 1.5m high. New branches tinted with purplish red, thick and strong. Large-sized round leaves, aslant, dense, leaflets 9, lush and plump, surface coarse, dark green, petiole sinuses light purplish red. Shade-tolerant, a little wet-tolerant, cold-tolerant, fertilizer-loving, strong adaptability, mid-blooming. It is one of the best Tianpeng tree poeny cultivars, an excellent cultivar.

153 Xinan Cultivar Group (Proliferation Form)

Yanzhi Lou, Jinyao Lou

'Yanzhi Lou' Rose proliferation form, carmine or purplish red alternating with pink. Medium size flowers, lateral or drooping. Outer petals of the lower-flowers many layers. The color of petal end is dark; the color of petal base is light. With reverse V-shaped purplish red blotches. Inner petals small, crushed, with a layer of stamens; anthers thick and short; the upper-flowers with many big petals, with a few small petals and stamens inside; anthers thick and big; filaments purplish red. With very small stamens and several carpels at center. Plants are semi-patulous, stems thick and strong. Large-sized round leaves, leaflets 9 (15), dark green. Medium growth, late-mid blooming. The quality is superior.

'Hongyao Lou' Delaminating proliferation form, pink. Flowers medium to small size (15cm x 8cm), lateral bloom or a little drooping. Outer petals of the lower-flowers 3-4 layers, wide obovate, with purplish red blotches at base; with a layer of scale liked small membranous petals inside (about more than 80), stamens remaining. The upper-flowers with more than 30 big petals, with crumpled crushed petals inside; carpels degenerated. Plants' height medium, semi-patulous, new branches tinted with purplish red. Leaves are large, aslant and sparse; thin leaflets are oblanceolate, elliptic or wide obovate; terminal leaflets lobed. Petioles long, petiole sinuses tinted with reddish purple. Mid-blooming, an excellent cultivar.

'Jinyao Lou' Crown proliferation form, pink and glistening. Flowers big to very big size (the biggest up to 25cm x 20cm), lateral. Outer petals of the lower-flower 2 layers, wide obovate or round, inner petals narrow and long, there is a layer of normal stamens between inner and outer petals, filaments purplish red, carpels petaloid and have become the same as normal petals. The upper-flower are short and crumpled small petals, dense arrangement, carpels often 6, 4 petaloid, 2 degenerated. Plants are semi-patulous, up to 1-2 m high. Branches thick and strong, new branches tinted with dark reddish brown. Large-sized round leaves, leaflets ovate or wide elliptic, tip taper-pointed. Petioles long, petiole sinuses purplish red. Vigorous growth, branches high and leaves flourishing, big flowers and long leafstalks. Mid-blooming, an excellent and representative cultivar of Tianpeng tree peony.

154

Danjing Yulou

(Proliferation Form) Xinan Cultivar Group

'Danjing Yulou' Crown proliferation form, white, glistening. Flowers medium size (16cm x 10cm),lateral. The whole flower often consists of three flowers. Outer petals of the lower-flowers 2 layers, petals termination incised, with two purplish red blotches at base, with more than 200 small petals among them; stamens many (180-260), filaments purplish red; carpels 2-7, petaloid and have become colorful petals with green blotches. The upper-flowers with many petals, crumpled, with a layer of stamens (more than 350), filaments short; carpels 11, abnormal development, stigmas bright red; discs remaining, serrate, dark purplish red. The structure of centre flowers is simple; with more than 30 petals, stamen seldom, carpels 5. Flora organs of the wholi flower more than thousand. Plants are semi-patulous, above 2.0n in height, new branches tinted with pur plish brown. Large-sized round leaves, leaf lets 15, wide elliptic or wide ovate, lust and plump, with purplish red tinge on the surfaces of leaves, with soft hair on the back, the side of petioles which is exposing to the sun tinted with purplish red. Vigor ous growth, shoots many, shade-tolerant strong adaptability, much flowered, witt heavy rosy fragrance. Late blooming, ar excellent cultivar.

'Xuesi Hong' Crown proliferation form, pink with light purple tinge. Flowers medium size (18cm x 6cm), drooping. Outer petals ol the lower-flower are big, with irregulai purplish red stripes on the petals and purplish red blotches at base; inner petals are small; there are narrow, crumpled and small petals between inner and outer petals. With normal stamens, filaments purplish red; carpels petaloid and have become colorful petals. The upper-flowers with many crumpled and crushed petals; stamens often petaloid, carpels 10, a little petaliod.

Plants are semi-patulous, above 1m in height, new branches tinted with purplish red. Large-sized round leaves, wide and big, lush and plump, surface coarse; petiole sinuses purplish red. Vigorous growth, strong adaptability, mid-blooming, a good cultivar.

Hongyao Lou Taiping Hong

155

I Xinan Cultivar Group (Proliferation Form)

Zi Xiuqiu

Taiping Hong' Delaminating proliferation form, red tinted with blue. Flowers medium to small size(15cm x 9cm). This cultivar often consists of three flowers. Petals of the lower-flowers many layers; outer petals medium size, with purplish red mottlings or radiate veins at base; inner petals small, there are a few degenerated stamens among petals; filaments thin, purple; with 8 purplish red discs remaining. The upper-flowers with medium size upright petals, with narrow and long petals inside and 5 carpels petaloid. Most of flowers have the third layer of proliferated petals, petals seldom, with 7-8 degenerated carpels at center, stigmas purplish red, discs remaining.

Plants short, semi-patulous, intersegmen-tum of new branches short, branching vigorously, bush-form. Large-sized round leaves, aslant, dense, leaflets 9, ovate to wide obovate, terminal leaflets lobed 3. Early blooming, an excellent cultivar. This cultivar is called ' Hongdan Lan' in Pengzhou.

'Zi Xiuqiu' Globular proliferation form, purplish red, glistening. Flowers big size (21cm x 18cm), lateral drooping. Outer petals of the lower flowers 3 layers, wide obovate, the end split, with purplish black blotches at base; inner petals narrow, stamens almost petaloid, petaloid carpels as normal as petals. Anthers remaining among petals of the upper-flowers; petal termination turn into pinkish purple in full bloom, there is a layer of degenerated stamens between inner and outer petals. Carpels 14, small. Inner and outer petals are densely arranged, flowers raised. Plants are semi-patulous, high (above 1.3m in height), weakly branched, branches thick and strong, new branches tinted with red. Large-sized round leaves are aslant and sparse; leaflets wide and big; lush and plump, dark green, nearly wide obovate, wide elliptic to round, terminal leaflets 1-3 divided. Petioles long, nearly round, tinted with purplish red. Vigorous growth, strong adaptability, shade-tolerant. Flowers with dense rosy fragrance; mid-blooming, an excellent cultivar.

'Lijiang Fen' Chrysanthemum proliferation form, pink. Flowers mediumsize, upright or lateral. Petals of the lower-flowers many layers, with a layer of stamens inside. The upper-flowers consist of a few petals and stamens, carpels degenerated. Plants are semi-patulous.Medium-sized round leaves relatively big, leaflets 9, dark green, spreading, medium growth, with a light fragrance, mid-blooming, a good cultivar. Cultivated in Lijiang region of Yunnan.

'Lijiang Zi' Delaminating proliferation form, purplish red. This cultivar often consists of three flowers. Flowers medium size, upright or lateral drooping. Outer petals of the lower-flowers 4 layers, inner several layers of petals small. The upper-flowers with several layers of medium petals, inner petals are small. Many flowers with small flowers at center, carpels degenerated.

Plants are semi-patulous. Large-sized long leaves, leaflets 9, big, a little involution, fringe brown; petioles brownish red. Medium growth, with delicate fragrance, mid-blooming, a good cultivar; cultivated in Lijiang region of Yunnan.

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