Volume 10 — PLATE DCXII. PÆONIA ALBIFLORA, flore pleno. Tartarian Pæony, double-flowered variety.

CLASS XIII. ORDER II.—V.

POLYANDRIA DIGYNIA ad PENTAGYNIAM. Many Chives. Two to Five Pointals.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Calyx 5-phyllus. Petala 5. Styli 0. Capsulæ polyspermæ.

Cup five-leaved. Petals 5. Shafts none. Capsules many-seeded.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Pæonia foliis biternatis, foliolis ovato-lanceolatis integris nudis, capsulis recurvatis glabris. Willd. Sp. Pl. vol. 2. p. 1222.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

The single-flowered Pæonia albiflora we have already figured in our first volume (Plate 64.), but never heard of the double variety until we found it in the nursery of Mr. Whitley, who informs us that he raised the plant from seeds received from Mr. Livingstone, surgeon, (in 1808,) who brought them from China under the title of the yellow Pæony. It bloomed last year with only three flowers, but has this year produced five elegant blossoms. Its great beauty certainly entitles it to a place in every flower-garden and curious collection. We shall only add to our former account of this fine species of Pæony above referred to, that Professor Pallas mentions in his Flora Rossica that the roots are used as food in Mongolia, where the plant grows naturally wild, being boiled and eaten by the Tartars, who also powder the seeds to mix with their tea.