peony

peony, any plant of the genus Paeonia of the family Ranunculaceae (buttercup family, although placed in the order Dilleniales as a separate family, the Paeoniaceae, by many modern botanists), mostly Eurasian species popular as garden and florists' flowers. Herbaceous peonies (most varieties of P. lactiflora)—formerly and still sometimes called piney—are hardy, bushy perennials that die back each year. The large, usually spring-blooming, single or double flowers commonly range in shades from red to white. Tree peonies (P. suffruticosa) have a somewhat woody, persistent base and are usually taller than the herbaceous, with more abundant and larger blossoms; they often are very long-lived but are less common in cultivation. Both kinds of peony have long been venerated in their native China and Japan. The peony was formerly regarded as both ornamental and medicinal—the roots were used to prevent convulsions. P. brownii is a species of small peony, not horticulturally important, that is native to the West Coast of North America. Peony is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Ranunculales, family Ranunculaceae.

Any of about 33 species of flowering plants in the genus Paeonia, sole genus of the family Paenoiaceae, found in Europe, Asia, and western North America and known for their large, showy blossoms. Herbaceous peonies are perennials that grow to about 3 ft (1 m). Their annual stems bear large, glossy, much-divided leaves and produce large single and double flowers of white, pink, rose, and deep crimson. Tree peonies are shrubs about 4–6 ft (1.2–1.8 m) high with permanent rootstocks and woody stems that bear flowers varying in colour from white to lilac, violet, and red.

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For the ancient Balkan region and tribe, see Paionia.

The peony or paeony (Paeonia) is the only genus in the flowering plant family Paeoniaceae. They are native to Asia, southern Europe and western North America.

Most are herbaceous perennial plants 0.5–1.5 metres tall, but some are woody shrubs up to 1.5–3 metres tall. They have compound, deeply lobed leaves, and large, often fragrant flowers, ranging from red to white or yellow, in late spring and early summer. In the past, the peonies were often classified in the family Ranunculaceae, alongside Hellebores and Anemones.

Name

The peony is named after Paeon or Paean, a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. Asclepius became jealous of his pupil; Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower.

Species

• Herbaceous species (about 30 species)
• Paeonia abchasica
• Paeonia anomala
• Paeonia bakeri
• Paeonia broteri
• Paeonia brownii (Brown's Peony)
• Paeonia californica (California Peony)
• Paeonia cambessedesii
• Paeonia caucasica
• Paeonia clusii
• Paeonia coriacea
• Paeonia daurica
• Paeonia emodi
• Paeonia hirsuta
• Paeonia intermedia
• Paeonia japonica (Japanese Peony)
• Paeonia kesrouanensis (Syrian Peony)
• Paeonia lactiflora (Chinese Peony, "garden peony")
• Paeonia macrophylla
• Paeonia mairei
• Paeonia mascula (Balkan Peony)
• Paeonia mlokosewitschii (Golden Peony)
• Paeonia obovata
• Paeonia officinalis (European Peony)
• Paeonia parnassica (Greek Peony)
• Paeonia peregrina
• Paeonia rhodia
• Paeonia sinjiangensis
• Paeonia sterniana
• Paeonia steveniana
• Paeonia tenuifolia
• Paeonia tomentosa
• Paeonia veitchii (Veitch's Peony)
• Paeonia wittmanniana

• Woody species (about 10 species)
• Paeonia decomposita
• Paeonia delavayi (Delavay's Tree Peony)
• Paeonia jishanensis (syn. Paeonia spontanea; Jishan Peony)
• Paeonia ludlowii (Ludlow's Tree Peony)
• Paeonia ostii (Osti's Peony)
• Paeonia potaninii
• Paeonia qiui (Qiu's Peony)
• Paeonia rockii (syn. Paeonia suffruticosa; Rock's Peony or Tree Peony)

Symbolism and uses

The peony is among the longest-used flowers in ornamental culture and is one of the smallest living creature national emblems in China. Along with the plum blossom, it is a traditional floral symbol of China, where it is called 牡丹 (mǔ dān). It is also known as 富贵花 (fuguihua) "flower of riches and honour", and is used symbolically in Chinese art. In 1903, the Qing Dynasty declared the peony as the national flower. Currently, the Republic of China on Taiwan designates the plum blossom as the national flower, while the People's Republic of China has no legally designated national flower. In 1994, the peony was proposed as the national flower after a nationwide poll, but the National People's Congress failed to ratify the selection. In 2003, another selection process has begun, but to date, no choice has been made.

The famous ancient Chinese city Luoyang has a reputation as a cultivation centre for the peonies. Throughout Chinese history, peonies in Luoyang are often said to be the finest in the country. Dozens of peony exhibitions and shows are still held there annually.

In Japan, Paeonia lactiflora used to be called ebisugusuri ("foreign medicine"). In kampo (the Japanese adaptation of Chinese medicine), its root was used as a treatment for convulsions. It is also cultivated as a garden plant. In Japan Paeonia suffruticosa is called the "The King of flowers" and Paeonia lactiflora is called the "prime minister of flowers".

Pronunciation of 牡丹 (peony) in Japan is "botan". Before the Meiji period, meat taken from quadrupeds was seldom consumed in Japan due to Buddhism. Thus in cases where such meat was handled, it was paraphrased using the names of flowers. The term botan was used (and is still used) to paraphrase wild boar meat. This comes from the flowery resemblance of the sliced meat when spread over a dish. Another example is sakura (cherry blossoms) which stands for horsemeat.

In 1957, the Indiana General Assembly passed a law to make the peony the state flower of Indiana, a title which it holds to this day. It replaced the zinnia, which had been the state flower since 1931.

Mischievous nymphs were said to hide in the petals of the Peony thus causing this magnificent flower to be given the meaning of Shame or Bashfulness in the Language of Flowers. It was named after Pæon, a physician to the gods, who obtained the plant on Mount Olympus from the mother of Apollo. Once planted the Peony likes to be left alone and punishes those who try to move it by not flowering again for several years. Once established, however, it produces splendid blooms each year for decades (Taken from The Language of Flowers, edited by Sheila Pickles, 1990).

Peonies are also extensively grown as ornamental plants for their very large, often scented flowers.

Peonies tend to attract ants to the flower buds. This is due to the nectar that forms on the outside of the flower buds.

Peonies are a common subject in tattoos, often used along with koi-fish.

Gallery

Notes

References and external links

• Paeoniaceae in Topwalks
• Germplasm Resources Information Network: Paeonia
• Flora Europaea: Paeonia
• Peony species
• Flora of China: Paeonia
• Ornamental Plants from Russia: Paeonia
• Canadian Peony Society
• U.S. Peony Society
• Carsten Burkhardt's Open Source Peony Project
• German Peony Group
• China Daily article on the 2003 national flower selection process
• 1911 edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica
• Rockii Tree Peony
• Paeonia mascula in the National Park of Alta Murgia, Apulia - Southern Italy