Paeonia Lactiflora - Dinner Plate
Seen at the National Botanic Garden of Wales at Llanarthne.
Paeonia lactiflora, also Chinese Peony and common garden peony is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Paeoniaceae, native to central and eastern Asia from eastern Tibet across northern China to eastern Siberia. It is about 60-100 cm tall with large compound leaves 20-40 cm long. The flower buds are large and round, opening into large flowers 8–16 cm diameter, with 5-10 white, pink, or crimson petals and yellow stamens.
Chinese Peony is widely grown as an ornamental plant in gardens, with several hundred selected cultivars; many of the cultivars have double flowers, with the stamens modified into additional petals. It was first introduced to England in the mid-18th century, and is the species that has produced most common garden peonies today. It was known as P. albiflora for many years, and as the white peony when first introduced into Europe. There are many colours now available, from pure milk white, to pink, rose, and near red - along with single to full double forms. They are prolific bloomers, and have become the main source of peonies for the cut flower business.
It is used as a medicinal herb in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is called "Peony Medicine" or "White Peony Medicine"). The root is used to reduce fever and pain, and on wounds to stop bleeding and prevent infection. An antispasmodic effect is apparently also recorded in the Japanese pharmacopoeia. The leaves of many cultivars are high in oleanolic and ursolic acid.
Paeonia Lactiflora - Dinner Plate
Seen at the National Botanic Garden of Wales at Llanarthne.
Paeonia lactiflora, also Chinese Peony and common garden peony is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Paeoniaceae, native to central and eastern Asia from eastern Tibet across northern China to eastern Siberia. It is about 60-100 cm tall with large compound leaves 20-40 cm long. The flower buds are large and round, opening into large flowers 8–16 cm diameter, with 5-10 white, pink, or crimson petals and yellow stamens.
Chinese Peony is widely grown as an ornamental plant in gardens, with several hundred selected cultivars; many of the cultivars have double flowers, with the stamens modified into additional petals. It was first introduced to England in the mid-18th century, and is the species that has produced most common garden peonies today. It was known as P. albiflora for many years, and as the white peony when first introduced into Europe. There are many colours now available, from pure milk white, to pink, rose, and near red - along with single to full double forms. They are prolific bloomers, and have become the main source of peonies for the cut flower business.
It is used as a medicinal herb in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is called "Peony Medicine" or "White Peony Medicine"). The root is used to reduce fever and pain, and on wounds to stop bleeding and prevent infection. An antispasmodic effect is apparently also recorded in the Japanese pharmacopoeia. The leaves of many cultivars are high in oleanolic and ursolic acid.