Anomalous Peony

Closely related to this species are P. intermedia C. A. Mey., with bright red flowers and leaves with linear-lanceolate segments and P. hybrida Pall., with crimson-red flowers (7-9 cm diam.) and leaves with linear segments (3-5 mm wide). Both occur in Siberia and Central Asia, where hybrids between these three species can be found. Z 4 (3). New.

Hong et al. (Acta Phytotax. Sin. 32: 349–355. 1994) recognized two species of Paeonia in Xinjiang: P. anomala (including in synonymy P. intermedia ) and P. sinjiangensis (including in synonymy P. altaica ). In fact, P. sinjiangensis and P. altaica are both synonyms of P. anomala, whereas P. intermedia is a distinct species.

Taproot deep. Flowering stems 60-120 cm. Leaves biternate, segments lanceolate, entire. Flowers solitary, purple-pink, 8-15 cm diam. During the peak of the flowering period the flowers are very numerous, covering the entire bush. V - early spring to mid autumn, in St. Petersburg Fl - May, Fr - July. P - by division and by seed sown immediately in mid summer. Come into flower in 3-4 years after sowing. Tolerates partial shade, grows best on rich soil in sunny places. A very attractive species. In cultivation since 1788, however poorly known today. Z 4 (3).

Herbs perennial, to 1 m tall. Roots thick, attenuate toward tip, to 50 × 1.5 cm. Stems glabrous. Proximal leaves 2-ternate; leaflets pinnately segmented, base ± decurrent; segments sometimes lobed; segments and lobes linear to linear-lanceolate, 3.5--10 × 0.4--2.1 cm, abaxially usually glabrous, rarely hispid or hirsute along veins and at margin, adaxially hispid or hirsute along veins, apex acuminate. Flowers solitary and terminal, or 2--4 per shoot and both terminal and axillary, single, 7--14 cm wide, sometimes 1--3 underdeveloped flower buds also present in axils of distal leaves. Bracts 2--5, leaflike, unequal. Sepals 3 or 4, ovate-orbicular, 2--2.5 × 1.5--2 cm, apex always or mostly caudate. Petals 6--9, rose to red, very occasionally nearly white, oblong, 3--6.5 × 1.5--3 cm. Filaments 5--10 mm. Disc yellow, annular. Carpels 2--5, sparsely to densely brown-yellow hispid or hirsute, rarely glabrous. Stigma red. Follicles ovoid-ellipsoid, ca. 2--3.1 × 1--1.5 cm. Seeds black, glossy, oblong, ca. 6 × 4 mm. Fl. Apr--Jul, fr. Aug--Sep.

European part of Russia (eastern regions), Siberia, Central Asia (Dzungarskiy Alatau, Tarbagatay, Tien Shan), northwestern China and Mongolia. Clearings in forests, meadows, slopes in the mountains.

C and S Gansu, S Ningxia, E Qinghai, S Shaanxi, N Shanxi, W Sichuan, N Xinjiang, E Xizang, Yunnan [NE Kazakhstan, N Mongolia, Russia (NE European part, Siberia)].

Forests, forest margin grasslands, scrub, subalpine and alpine meadows with shrubs; 1200--3900 m.