- Paeonia mascula
Taxobox
name = Wild Peony
image_width = 240px
image_caption = (Naturalised example fromFlat Holm island)
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Saxifragales
familia = Paeoniaceae
genus = "Paeonia"
genus_authority = L.
subdivision_ranks = Species
species = "P. mascula"
binomial = "Paeonia mascula"
binomial_authority =The Wild Peony ("Paeonia mascula") also known as the Male or
Balkan Peony and sometimes referred to by the synonym "Paeonia corallina"Citation |title= Plants For A Future: Paeonia mascula | url= http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Paeonia+mascula | accessdate = 2008-05-14 ] is a species ofpeony . A herbaceous perennial plant 0.5–1.5 metres tall, the Wild Peony has leaves which are divided into three segments and large red flowers in late spring and early summer. Native toChina ,Europe ,Morocco ,Spain ,Greece andTurkey this wild peony has become naturalised on two small islands in theUK .Location
Wild peonies are at risk in their natural environment due to the demand from private collectors and there is a significant trade in wild Peonia mascula from Turkey.Citation | title = The Peony Society: Wild Species |url= http://www.peonysociety.org.uk/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=11
accessdate = 2008-04-30 .]Ideal conditions are light (sandy) soils although and most peonies can grow in heavy clay soil. Thw Wid Peony prefers acid and neutral soils, can grow in semi-shade and tolerates drought.
The Wild Peony was introduced to the island of
Steep Holm in theBristol Channel , possibly by monks, and has naturalised. 37 plants were taken to nearbyFlat Holm island by Frank Harris, the farmer at the time, in the 1930's, many of which died during theWorld War II occupation and fortification of the island. One remaining plant was reintroduced by the Flat Holm Warden in 1982 and is protected by fencing near the path to the lighthouse. A few plants grown from seed also survive in the farmhouse garden [Cardiff Council Flat Holm Project records accessed 2008-05-08] .Flowering Cycle
Paeonia mascula flowers for just 1 week of the year normally in May or June and the seedpods (at one stage referred to as jester's hats develop during the summer before bursting open to scatter seeds in August or September [Citation | title = Flat Holm Island | publisher = Cardiff Council | pages = 46–47 | year = 2004 | isbn = 0-902466-14-3 ] . The flowers are
hermaphrodite andpollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.The islands are the only known place in the
UK where the Wild Peony has naturalised. The likely reason for this is that the islands provide a habitat which is similar to theMediterranean islands where the plants originate from and the relative isolation allows them some protection.Uses
The roots of Wild Peony were ground to a powder and used to treat colds and sore throats. [cite web |url=http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/comindx.html |title=A Modern Herbal |accessdate=2008-04-12 |author=M.Grieve ] .
Etymology
Named after Pæon, a physician to the gods who obtained the plant on Mount Olympus from the mother of Apollo, the peony needs to be left alone and punishes those who try to move it by not flowering again for several years. Once established, however, it blooms each year for decades [Citation | last1 = Pickles| first1 = Sheila | title = The Language of Flowers| publisher = | year = 1990 ] .
Gallery
References
External links
* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/splist.pl?8758 Germplasm Resources Information Network: "Paeonia"]
* [http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Paeonia&SPECIES_XREF=&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= Flora Europaea: "Paeonia"]
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