Peony (China’s national flower)

Scientific name: Paeonia Suffruticosa

English name: Subshrubby Peony

Paeoniaceae, Paeonia genus

Peony is a small perennial deciduous shrub that grows slowly and has a small plant size. The plant height is mostly between 0.5 and 2 meters; its roots are fleshy, thick and long, and the center is lignified. The length is generally 0.5 to 0.8 meters. There are very few roots. The length can reach 2 meters; the color of the root bark and root flesh varies depending on the variety; the branches are upright, brittle, and round, with several branches clustered from the rhizome to form a shrub-like shape. The branches of the current year are smooth, grassy, ??yellow-brown, and often cracked. And peeling; the leaves are alternate, and the leaves are usually compound leaves with three backs and three leaves. The upper parts of the branches are often single leaves. The leaflets have lanceolate, oval, elliptical and other shapes. The terminal leaflets are often 2 to 3 lobed, and the upper leaves are dark green. Or yellow-green, gray-green below, smooth or hairy; the total petiole is 8 to 20 cm long, with grooves on the surface; the flowers are solitary on the top of the branches of the current year, bisexual, large and colorful, beautiful in shape, and the flower pattern is: : ♂*K5C∞G2~5: 1:2~5, flower diameter 10~30 cm; flower colors include white, yellow, pink, red, purple red, purple, dark purple (black), snow green (pink blue), The top ten colors are green and complex; the male and pistils often have petals, and the natural increase in petals and the degree of petalization of male and pistils are related to the variety, cultivation environment conditions, growth years, etc.; normal flowers have many stamens, strong seed-setting ability, and good planting The seed maturity is also high. Flowers with severely petaled pistils will have few and solid seeds or no seeds. The flowers are complete and have free stamens. There are usually 5 carpels and rarely 8 carpels. Each has a bottle-shaped ovary and one chamber. Placenta, many ovules, skeletal fruit with five corners, each fruit horn bears 7 to 13 seeds, the seeds are round, yellow when mature, turn into dark brown when old, mature seed diameter is 0.6 to 0.9 cm. Thousand grains weigh about 400 grams.

After peonies changed from wild to domestic, due to changes in environmental conditions and artificial continuous selection and cultivation, in addition to variations in flower color, flower type, and flowering period, there are also changes in plant shape, root length, and Variations have also occurred in thickness, leaf color, and shape.

1. Plant type

Due to different varieties, peony plants are tall or short, clumps or solitary, straight or slanted, clustered or scattered. Generally speaking, it can be divided into five types according to its shape;

1. Upright type

The branches are upright and tall, tightly distributed, with a small expansion angle, and the branches are in line with the vertical line The included angle is mostly within 30°. The internodes are long, and the annual growth of new branches is 10 to 15 cm. Generally, five-year-old plants are 40 to 50 cm tall, with some reaching more than 1 meter. Such as "Shou Case Red", "Purple Er Qiao", "Yao Huang", etc.

2. Evacuated type

The branches are scattered and bent, extending to all sides. The plant width is greater than the plant height, forming a low and spread plant shape. When the branches are unfolded, they have many angles with the vertical line. Above 45°, new branches are long and soft. Such as "Zhao Fen", "Shou Zhonghong", "Mountain Flowers", "Green Dragon Lying in Mochi", etc.

3. Opening type

The branches grow strong and straight, extending diagonally to all sides. The angle is between the above two. The plant shape is perfect and correct, the height is moderate, and the annual growth of new branches is 6 ~8 cm, and the height of five-year-old plants is generally 30-40 cm. Such as "number one scholar red", "silver red pair", "gold and jade seal", etc.

4. Dwarf type

The branches grow slowly, the internodes are short and the leaves are dense, the branches are compact and short, the annual new branch growth is 2 to 4 cm, and the height of the five-year-old plant is generally About 15 cm high. Such as "Beauty Red", "Arhat Red", "Haiyun Purple", etc. are the representatives.

5. Single-stemmed type

Most of them are artificially cultivated artistic shapes, with obvious trunks, and the height of the trunk varies, generally between 20 and 80 cm. There are several branches growing on the main trunk, forming a crown (some have no crown). The shape is quaint and elegant, resembling a bonsai. It grows slowly and generally takes more than 8 years to form. Such as "No. 18" etc.

In each plant type mentioned above, due to different varieties, the degree of uprightness, height, and diagonal extension are also different; at the same time, the branches are also different in thickness, thinness, stiffness, straightness, etc. to varying degrees.

For example, among the dwarf types, "Luohan Hong" belongs to the stout and dwarf type, while "Out of the Stem and Take the Green" belongs to the thin and dwarf type; and among the upright types, "Shou Case Red" belongs to the stout and upright type, and "Yao Huang" It belongs to the thin, hard and upright type.

2. Roots

Peony has a well-developed root system, with many deep-rooted fleshy main roots and lateral roots. The primary roots are white at first, gradually turning into yellow to brown. The flesh is white, sometimes red, and the center of the flesh is lignified, commonly known as "wooden heart". The fleshy part stores a large amount of nutrients and water for plant growth. Generally speaking, plants with deep roots have lush branches and leaves, and the plants are taller, while plants with shallow roots have short branches and short plants. Peonies vary in root type and quantity due to different varieties, but they can generally be divided into three categories:

1. Tap-root type

This type of root has deep roots (four-year-old peonies The roots can be buried in the soil for more than 80 cm), but the root strips are sparse and there is no obvious main root. There are only dozens of thick "noodle roots" with uniform thickness. The roots are smooth and skinned, and there are very few meridian rootlets on the roots. The roots (after processing Called "Danpi"), it has high yield and good quality. Such as "Feng Dan", "Zhao Fen", "Er Qiao", "Mo Kui", etc. Most of these peonies are medicinal and ornamental varieties.

2. Sloping root type

This type of root strips are of different thicknesses and lengths, with more meridian lateral roots and cross-growing roots. They are commonly known as "chicken claw roots". Most of them are shallowly buried in the soil and slope. Big angle. Such as "Qingshan Guanxue", "White Jade", "Huanghuakui" and other varieties, the bark quality and yield of these peonies are lower than those of the taproot type, and are not suitable for medicinal cultivation.

3. Intermediate type

This type of root is moderately dense, has no obvious main root, and has many "noodle roots" with even thickness and smooth root bark. The average depth of penetration into the soil is 70-80 cm, such as "Zhongshenghei", "Yaohuang", etc., which are both ornamental and medicinal.

3. Buds

The buds of peony are surrounded by 6 to 8 scales, so peony buds are also called "scale buds". Peonies survive the winter with scaly buds.

The buds of peony are divided into four types according to their functions and degree of differentiation: flower buds, leaf buds, latent buds and adventitious buds.

1. Flower buds

The flower buds of peony are mixed buds, which can sprout branches, grow leaves, and bloom. The ones that grow on the tops of branches are called "terminal flower buds". On branches that have bloomed once, the flower stems will dry up and shrink by themselves. The flower buds that grow between the leaf axils at the lower part of the dry flower stem are called "axillary flower buds" or "lateral flower buds". The flower buds are generally plump and plump. When the scales are peeled off, the "flower embryos" (i.e., the young flower buds inside the scale buds) can be seen.

2. Leaf buds

Leaf buds only produce branches and leaves. Most of them are borne between the leaf axils of the lower part of the flower buds. There are also some borne on the top of the branches. They are thinner than the flower buds and develop into branch.

3. Latent buds

Latent buds grow at the lowermost part of new branches. They are small and shriveled in shape, like millet grains, and are commonly known as "dog turtles". It does not germinate normally, but can only germinate after flower buds, leaf buds or branches are injured. Its lifespan is long and can last for 10 to 15 years.

4. Adventitious buds

The buds growing on the rhizome are called "adventitious buds". After being unearthed, they sprout into tillers, commonly known as "earth buds". Adventitious buds have extremely strong germination ability and are the main source of scions, renewal of old branches (strands) and the addition of new strands. Adventitious buds do not bloom that year, but if they grow vigorously, they can develop and differentiate into flower buds at the top that year and bloom the next year.

The buds of peonies vary in shape, color, etc. due to different varieties. They come in various forms and have their own characteristics. Generally speaking, there are cone type, pearl type, oblate type, long cone type, hawk-bill type, etc.; there are differences in size, number of scales, thinness and solidity of buds among various shapes; colors also include green, yellow-green, earthy Colors such as red, earthy yellow, silver gray, tan and varying degrees of purple-red; there are also flower colors and mixed colors, which are the main basis for distinguishing varieties in autumn. Therefore, it is difficult to identify peony varieties based solely on the shape and color of the buds. Long-term, patient and careful observation is required to grasp the characteristics of the buds of each variety.

4. Branching

Due to the different lengths of internode on the effective branches in the current year, the number of buds and the germination strength of new branches are also different. The habits of branching are also obviously different, but the differences are different. There are generally two types of branches:

1. Single branch type

The new branches of the current year have long internodes and few buds, only at the base of 1 to 2 nodes or Buds grow on nodes 1 to 3, and among these new buds, only one bud sprouts and becomes a new branch that year. This type generally has tall plants and sparse branches, such as "Yaohuang" and so on.

2. Thick-branch type

The new branches of the current year have short internodes and more new buds, usually 3 to 5. The new buds have strong branching ability, and each new bud grows in that year. It can be pulled out to form short branches, and the branches are dense and clustered. Plants of this variety are generally shorter and densely branched. Such as "Yingluo Baozhu", "Dan Luyan", "Zhihong", etc.

5. Leaves

Peony leaves are alternate and composed of blades and petioles. Leaf shape, size, color, texture, etc. vary depending on the variety and can be divided into the following categories:

1. Large round leaf type

The whole leaf is large and round, 40 cm long. Above, more than 25 cm wide, the leaflets are wide, round and plump, broadly ovate or ovate; the edges of the lateral leaflets are lacking; the leaves are mostly flat. Such as "Wang Hong", "Da Hu Hong", "Mo Kui", "Shou Case Hong", etc.

2. Large long-leaf type

The size of the whole leaf is the same as the previous one, but the leaflets are narrower and longer, oblong in shape, thin in texture, with few and pointed edges, and the leaves are sparse. And flat or drooping, such as "silver powder gold scales", "ice covered red stone", etc.

3. Round leaflet type

The whole leaf is small, about 20 to 30 cm long, the leaflets are short and thick, and the edges are notched and round. Such as "Gejin Purple", "Lantian Jade", "Beauty Red", etc.

4. Small long-leaf type

The size of the whole leaf is the same as above, but the leaflets are narrower, with sharp edges and curled up. Such as "fat red", "smoke dragon purple", etc.

5. Medium leaf type

The whole leaf is medium in size, about 30 to 40 cm long, the leaflets are oblong, the edges are notched, pointed and rolled up, and the leaves are mostly oblique. stretch. Such as "Fake Pueraria Purple", "Zhuangyuan Red", "Big Brown Purple", etc.

There are also special leaf shapes at home and abroad. For example, "Sanqijisheng" has only three irregular round leaves on each petiole, which is two-thirds less than the average variety, and has two compound leaves; another example is "Meat Lotus", "Big Brown" "Purple", each petiole bears three sets of leaves, divided into five to eleven leaflets, two more than the average variety.

The color of peony leaves is mainly green or yellow-green. The leaves of some varieties have purple halo in different shades; some leaves are also decorated with purple or yellow spots; the underside of the leaves is mostly gray. Green and light gray, some varieties (such as "Crane White") are particularly hairy.

6. Petiole

The petiole of peony is also divided into thickness, hardness and softness, and length. The long one can reach 40 cm, and the short one is no more than 10 cm; the recess of the petiole is mostly dark purple. , purple-red, gray-brown, yellow-green and other different colors.

The length of the petiole, especially the angle between the petiole and the branch, varies greatly depending on the variety. It also has a greater impact on the ornamental value of the flower. The angle between the petiole and the branch is large, and the leaf surface is flat or drooping. , the leaves are also sparse, like "Mokui", the flowers are all grown on the leaves, forming beautiful flowers and beautiful leaves, which complement each other's ornamental value; on the contrary, the petioles are shorter, and the angle between the petiole and the branches is smaller, because the branches and leaves are close together , the flowers are often hidden in the leaves, causing the phenomenon of "flowers hidden in the leaves", which greatly reduces the ornamental value.

7. Flowers

Peonies are large and colorful and come in many varieties. Some varieties have complete flower organs, with sepals, stamens, and pistils developing normally, such as "Lotus-like", "Fengdanbai", etc.; but in some varieties, the male and pistils have petals or degenerate, forming colorful and beautiful flower shapes. flowers.

According to the number of petal layers, flowers are traditionally divided into: single-petal (layer) type, double-petal (layer) type, and thousand-petal (layer) type. Among these three categories, depending on the morphological characteristics of the flowers, they are divided into six types: sunflower type, lotus type, rose type, hemispheric type, crown type, and hydrangea type (traditionally, the crown type and hydrangea type are called Qi Lou). type. This classification method more intuitively reflects the various changing forms of flowers.

In recent years, peony experts and scholars have worked together with scientific researchers in the production areas, combined with traditional classification methods, through years of field observation and research and anatomical observations of peonies, to clarify the flower shape and flower composition. After the evolution rules, a new flower type classification was proposed, that is, the peony flower types are divided into single-petal type, lotus type, chrysanthemum type, rose type, thousand-story pavilion type, laurel type, golden ring type, crown type, Hydrangea type, pavilion type.

1. Single petal

The petals have 2-3 whorls, 10-15 pieces, wide and flat, with 200-300 stamens and 4-6 pistils. The male and pistils develop normally. Strong strength. This type of flower type is represented by varieties such as "Opium Purple", "Pomegranate Red", "Sai Zhu Pan", and "Feng Dan Bai".

2. Lotus type

The petals have 4-5 whorls and 20-25 pieces. The petals are wide, similar in shape and size, and clearly arranged. The development of the pistil is basically normal, and the fruiting ability is strong, but Some species occasionally have stamens or pistils with stigmas. This type of flower type is represented by varieties such as "Lotus-like", "Jinyunhong", "Snow Lotus", and "Yubabai".

3. Chrysanthemum type

The petals have more than 6 rounds. The petals are similar in shape, neatly arranged, and clearly layered. They gradually become smaller from the outside to the inside. The stamens are normal or reduced to smaller, and occasionally there are The pistils are petaled, with 5 to 11 pistils, growing normally or degenerating and becoming smaller. Some varieties have petaled stigmas and poor fruiting strength. This type of flower type is represented by varieties such as "Rose Red", "Cluster Smile", "Yinhong Qiaodui", and "Jinpaohong".

4. Rose type

The petals have multiple whorls, and the petals gradually become smaller from the outside to the inside. The stamens are partially petaled into normal petals, and the pistils degenerate into smaller or petals, and the fruiting strength is poor. This type of flower type is represented by varieties such as "Purple Erqiao", "Wuhua Yaohui", and "Hongxia Zhenghui".

5. Tuogui type

The outer petals are in 2 to 5 rounds, wide and neat, and some of the stamen petals are transformed into slender petals. There are often traces of anthers or anthers left on the petals, and there are some traces of anthers between the petals. The normal stamens are arranged irregularly and sparsely, and the pistils are normal or slightly petaled and have strong knot strength. This type of flower type is represented by varieties such as "Lady's Clothing", "Jiaohong", "Xian'e", and "Three Transformations Saiyu".

6. Golden ring type

The outer petals have 2 to 3 whorls, wide and flat. Some of the stamen petals in the center of the flower turn into long and narrow upright large petals. There is a circle between the center petals and the outer petals. Normal stamens are golden ring-shaped, pistils are normal or slightly petaled, and have poor strength. There are very few such flower types, represented by the "White Swan" and "Junyanhong" varieties.

7. Crown type

The outer petals have 2 to 5 rounds, wide and flat, arranged regularly, most or all of the stamens are turned into finely divided or wrinkled petals, and the petals are densely raised. Shaped like a crown. The inner petals are arranged irregularly, with normal stamens or degenerated stamens often mixed between the petals, and anthers often remain at the ends of the petals; the pistils are degenerated or petaled, and occasionally strong. This type of flower type is represented by varieties such as "Lantian Jade", "Hu Hong", "Yao Huang", and "Shou Case Red".

8. Hydrangea type

The stamens are fully valved, the inner and outer valves are similar in shape and size, crowded and raised into a spherical or oval shape; the pistils are basically or completely degenerated or petaled, and have no fruiting ability. This type of flower type is represented by varieties such as "Bean Green", "Green Fragrant Ball", and "Snow Reflected Dawn".

9. Thousand-layered pavilion type

The lower petals have more than 4 rounds. The petals are arranged neatly and have similar shapes. There are no stamens and vestigial stamens between the petals. The stamens are normal and small, or occasionally have petals, and the pistils have degenerated into smaller sizes or petals; the upper petals have fewer petals, and are flat or upright, the stamens have few and become smaller, and the pistils have degenerated into smaller sizes or have petals. This type of flower type is represented by varieties such as "Linghua Zhanlu", "Zhihong" and "Shouxinghong".

10. Louzitaige type

The stamens of the lower flower are fully petaled, similar to the shape of normal petals, and the pistil petals are transformed into normal petals or colorful petals; the petals of the upper flower are slightly larger, The number is large, and the stamens are basically all petals or degenerated; the pistil petals turn into normal petals or colorful petals, and some varieties degenerate and disappear. This type of flower type is represented by varieties such as "Red Dragon Huancai", "Shengdan Lu", "Yulou Diancui", "Zichonglou" and so on.

As the flower patterns of peonies evolve, some varieties often bloom with 2-3 flower patterns or more on the same plant and branch. For example, "Zhaofen", "Qingxiangbai", "White Crane Lying in the Snow", "Mountain Flower Lanxi", etc., the same plant can bloom "Crown", "Guigui", "Single-petal" and other flower types. Therefore, when determining the flower type of a certain variety, the flower type with the highest evolution of the variety should be used as the standard.

8. Fruit seeds

The flowers are single-petaled and have five corners. Each corner has 7-13 seeds, and the seeds are round. The exocarp is green and hairy at first, turns crab yellow when mature, and the seeds are yellow-green. When overripe, the corners crack and the seeds are dark brown. There are 2,400-3,000 dry seeds per kilogram. Double-petaled flowers generally bear 1-5 centimeters, but the seeds are only partially or completely unfruitful; thousand-petaled flowers do not bear seeds.

Identification of Peony Varieties

Peonies compete for beauty in spring. If you are wandering in the sea of ??flowers. I am afraid that in addition to marveling at the beauty of the flower, you also want to know its name. If you take friends to enjoy flowers, if you can name them, it will add more elegance and infinite fun. In fact, most peonies are not difficult to identify. As long as you are willing, you can get to know them.

Identification from flowers

Flowers are one of the important basis for identification of varieties. Peonies, like other flowers, have their main features concentrated on the corolla. To identify the variety, you must first look at the corolla.

Based on flower type

Peony is classified into three categories and twelve types. That is, single-valve type, double-valve type, and double-valve type. Single petal type, lotus type, chrysanthemum type, rose type, laurel type, golden ring type, crown type, hydrangea type, chrysanthemum table type, rose table type, crown table type, hydrangea table type. The following examples illustrate.

Single-petal type: 1-3 petals, wide, with normal male and female pistils. Such as "Yellow Oiran", "Splashing Ink Purple", "Fengdan", "Fruit on Plate" and all wild peony species.

Lotus type: The petals are in 4-5 rounds, wide and uniform, and look like lotus when open. Such as "Red Cloud Flying Piece", "Like Lotus", "Cinnabar Barrier".

Chrysanthemum type: The petals are multi-rounded, arranged in layers and gradually become smaller from the outside to the inside, such as "Caiyun", "Luoyang Red", and "Linghua Xiaocui".

Rose type: the petals naturally increase in number and gradually become smaller from the outside, with a small number of stamens becoming finely divided petals; the pistils are slightly petaled or normal. Such as "purple gold plate", "dew pink", "big brown purple".

Tuogui type: the outer valve is obvious, wide and flat; the stamen valve is tapered from the outside to the inside and slightly raised, and is hemispherical. Such as "Da Hu Hong", "Lu Fen", "Lantian Jade".

Golden ring type: The outer valve is protruding and wide, and the middle valve is narrow, long and vertical, in the shape of a golden ring. Such as "cinnabar red", "Yao yellow", "Shou case red".

Crown type: The outer petals are protruding, and the middle petals become wider as they are farther from the center of the flower, shaped like a crown. Such as "Da Hu Hong", "Yan Velvet Purple", "Zhao Fen".

Hydrangea type: the stamens are completely petaled, compactly arranged, and spherical. Such as "Red Dragon Changing Colors", "Silver Powder Gold Scales", "Shengdan Furnace".

The last four types can be summarized as the Taige type: composed of two overlapping double single flowers. It is divided into "Chrysanthemum Stack", "Rose Stack", "Crown Stack" and "Hydrangea Stack". Such as "Fire Alchemy Pill", "Kunshan Night Light", "Dawei Zi", "Purple Chonglou", etc.

From the perspective of flower color

The peony series is famous for its eight major colors, such as the white "Light White", the blue "Lantian Jade", the red "Fire Alchemy Pill", ink The purple "Zhongshenghei", the purple "Shouchenghong", the green "Bean Green", the pink "Zhao Fen", and the yellow "Yao Huang". There are also "Er Qiao", "Three Changes of Charming Face" and so on with strange colors. In addition, the same color has different shades.

Based on the fragrance type

Generally, white peonies have a strong fragrance, purple ones have a strong fragrance, and yellow peonies have a delicate fragrance. You only need to "smell the fragrance to know the flower."

Identification from the leaves

Peony leaves have 3 leaves and 2 leaves. Due to different varieties, the leaves vary in shape, width, thickness, color, etc. For example, the leaves of "Da Hu Hong" are large, round and plump, and the leaves are mostly flat. For example, the leaves of "Ink Sprinkled Gold" are large and long, but the leaflets are narrow and long, thin in texture, sparsely spread or drooping.

For example, the whole leaves of "Zhuangyuanhong" are medium in size, the leaflets are long oval, the edges are many and pointed, rolled up, and the leaves are mostly obliquely stretched. For example, there is a layer of white hair on the back of the leaves of "Bean Green". For example, the leaves of "Big Brown Purple" have purple-red leaves.

Identification from branches

This method is to distinguish varieties through plant shape and branching method. Peonies are clustered shrubs, and different varieties have different plant shapes and branching methods.

Upright type: The branches have a small opening angle, upright and upward, long internodes, strong growth, and tall plants, such as "Luoyang Red", "Peach and Plum Zengyan", etc.

Spreading type: The branches open at a large angle, extending to all sides, and the plant shape is low, such as "Yipin Zhuyi", "Zhaofen", etc.

Semi-spreading type: between the above two types, such as "Zhihong", "Lantian Jade", etc.

The branching method is divided into single branch type and plexus type.

Single branch type: the branches of the current year are longer and have new growth. There are few buds, and these buds will sprout into branches in the early spring of the next year, with tall plants and sparse branches, such as "Yaohuang", "Penner Qiao", etc.

Arbuscular type: The branches of the current year are shorter and the new buds are new. It has many branches and strong branching ability. It can form clusters of short branches in the same year, such as "Gejinzi", "Yingwang Mingbaozhu", etc.

Identified from the buds. >

Different varieties of peonies have different bud shapes and colors. The buds of "Luoyang Chun" have round tips; the buds of "Cinnabar Lei" have narrow tips; The hook is like an eagle's beak. As for the bud color, it is more abundant: the buds of "Baihua Jie" are yellow-green; the buds of "Zhihong" are green; the buds of "Mokui" are dark purple, etc. There is a certain correlation. If the buds are dark, the flowers will be dark; if the buds are light, the flowers will be light.

Identification from the fruit

Generally, the fruit is strong and the carpels are open. The varieties arranged in a whorl shape are mostly single-petaled and semi-double-petaled varieties, such as "Golden Lotus", "Fengdan", etc. The fruit setting rate is low, and the fruits are in clusters, and they are mostly double-petaled varieties, such as "Erqiao". ", "Cinnabar Barrier", etc.

Distinguish from the roots

The roots of peonies are also used as an auxiliary means to distinguish their varieties. Some varieties have fewer capillary roots in the root system and the root thickness is more uniform. , such as "Ge Jin Zi". Other varieties have more capillary roots and are in a fluffy shape. For example, most varieties of "Ying Wang Ming Baozhu" have white, yellow and white, red and white roots, while "Shou Case Red" has purple roots. The color red is one of the important criteria for identifying this variety.

Peony is a famous traditional Chinese flower. It is graceful and elegant, and its combination of color, fragrance and charm is unparalleled in history. Few poets have written poems to praise it. For example, a poem from the Tang Dynasty praised it: "The best name is called the King of Hundred Flowers." And the Song Dynasty poem "Ai Lian Shuo" wrote: "Peony is also the flower of wealth." Therefore, they became nicknames for praising peonies.

People in the Tang Dynasty loved peonies even more. During the peony blooming season, they held a grand peony festival, and the people of Chang'an came out intoxicated. Like crazy. Peony was also loved in the palace. The poet Li Zhengfeng praised it as "national beauty" and "natural fragrance", and the "national beauty and natural fragrance" became another nickname of peony.

With its unique magnificence, splendor and luxuriance, the peony is regarded as a symbol of prosperity, happiness and peace in traditional Chinese consciousness.

Peony - the King of Flowers

Scientific name: Paeonia suffruticosa

British name: Tree Peony

Alternative names: Deer leek, wood peony, flower king, Luoyang king, rich flower

Family name: Paeoniaceae

Origin and habits: Originated in China, Hanzhong is the earliest place in China to cultivate peony artificially. It is a deciduous subshrub. It likes coolness and hates heat, prefers dryness and fears humidity, can withstand low temperatures of -30°C, and can grow normally in areas with an annual average relative humidity of about 45. It likes light but tolerates a little shade. It requires loose, fertile, well-drained neutral loam or sandy loam, and avoid planting in heavy soil or low temperatures. Flowering period is April-May. The grafting method is often used for cultivation, because it belongs to the same genus as peony, and peony is often used as rootstock.

Morphological characteristics: The root system is fleshy and strong, with few branches and fibrous roots. The plant height is 1-3m, the old stems are gray-brown, and the current-year branches are yellow-brown. The leaves are bipinnate and alternate.

The flowers are solitary on the top of the stem, with a flower diameter of 10-30cm. The colors are white, yellow, pink, red, purple and multiple colors, with single, double, double and pavilion flowers.

There are many ways to divide the tips of peonies. According to the plant type, it can be divided into upright type, spreading type and semi-open type; according to the bud type, it can be divided into round bud type, narrow bud type, olecranon type and exposed mouth type. Type; according to the branching habit, it can be divided into single-branch type and arbuscular type; according to the flower color, it can be divided into white, yellow, pink, red, purple, blue, black and complex colors (actually there is no pure blue and black); According to the flowering period, it can be divided into early-flowering type, medium-flowering type, late-flowering type and autumn-winter type (some varieties have the habit of blooming twice. After blooming in spring, they can bloom naturally again in autumn and winter, which is called autumn-winter type); according to flower type, It is divided into four levels: department, category and group. The four series are the peony series, the purple peony series, the yellow peony series and the purple peony series; the two categories are the single-flowered type and the pavilion-flowering type; the two groups are the melaleuca group and the building group; the following groups are based on the shape of the flowers. It is divided into several types, such as single-petal type, lotus type, laurel type, crown type, etc.

Propagation and cultivation: Commonly used are division and grafting methods for propagation, and sowing and cuttings can also be used. The suitable period for transplantation is from late September to early October, and it cannot be too early or too late. It likes fertilizer and should be fertilized at least three times a year, namely "flower fertilizer", "bud fertilizer" and "winter fertilizer". Pruning should be carried out after 2-3 years of cultivation. For varieties with strong growth potential and strong branching ability, only thin and weak branches need to be cut off and all strong branches should be retained. The sprouting tillers at the base should be removed in time to maintain a beautiful plant shape. Removing buds is also an extremely important task. In order to make the plant bloom abundantly and brightly and keep the plant strong, the number of blooms should be controlled according to the age of the tree. In the early stage of budding, select a certain number of fully developed flower buds and remove excess buds and weak buds as soon as possible. Generally, plants that are 5-6 years old retain 3-5 flower buds. For newly planted plants, all flower buds should be removed in the second spring to prevent them from blooming to concentrate nutrients and promote plant development.

Common diseases include brown spot, red spot and rust; common pests include nematodes, grubs and cutworms.

Application:

The main ornamental parts of peonies are flowers. Their flowers are graceful and magnificent, and are known as "the beauty of the country and the fragrance of the sky" and the "king of flowers". Special gardens can be established in parks and scenic spots; flower beds can be built in classical gardens and residential courtyards; and natural solitary plants, cluster plants or patchwork plants can be planted in garden green spaces. It is also suitable for arranging flower borders, flower beds, flower belts, and potted plants for viewing. The application is even more flexible. It can delay the flowering period to make it bloom all year round. The root bark is used as medicine and the petals can be used to make wine.

Medicinal uses:

The root bark of peony has been used as medicine since ancient times, and it is called "Peony Bark". "Shen Nong's Materia Medica" lists it as a middle grade product. Li Shizhen wrote "Compendium of Materia Medica" and said: "Peony with colored peony is the best." The dosage of paeonol is very large. The annual domestic demand is about 2.5 million kilograms, and the annual export volume is about 500,000 kilograms. Caozhou peony is a dual-use variety for medicinal and ornamental purposes. The "Caodan" produced has thick skin, pink feet and good quality. It is one of the four major peony production areas in the country. The outer layer of the peony root bark is the cork layer, which is composed of multiple rows of cork cells. The cell wall is light red; the inner layer is the cortex, which is composed of several rows of tangentially extended thin-skinned cells. The phloem in the cortex accounts for most of the root, and the center For xylem and pith. In the phloem and cortical parenchyma cells and intercellular spaces of peony roots, there are more oxalic acid crystal clusters and contain a lot of starch. Fresh skin contains about 5-6 Paeonolide (C20 H28 O12), but it is easily hydrolyzed by its own enzymes and becomes Paeonol (C15 H20 O8) and a molecule of L arabinose. Paeonol C9 H10 O3 contained in the root bark is a lustrous needle-shaped crystal, soluble in water and general solvents, and also contains paeoniflorin (Paeonorin), benzoic acid, volatile oil 0.15-0.4 and phytosterols, etc. . Peony phenol is the main medicinal ingredient and has antibacterial effects. In vitro tests, paeonol bark has strong antibacterial effects on typhoid bacilli, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic streptococci, pneumococci, etc., and also has an inhibitory effect on diphtheria bacilli. Danpi Shui Decoction also has the effect of lowering blood pressure.

The bark is cylindrical, semi-cylindrical or broken into pieces, with longitudinal cracks and curling inwards on both sides. The outer skin is pinkish white or reddish, and the inner layer is brown or khaki. It has fine lines, is brittle and easy to break. , the cross-section is powdery white and has a specific aroma. In order to facilitate transportation and storage, the processed root bark is usually cut into 6-15cm long segments, packed in wooden boxes or bamboo baskets, and placed in a dry, ventilated and rain-proof place. place. Pay attention to moisture-proof during storage. After being affected by moisture, its cross section changes from the original pinkish white to red. If it turns black, it indicates that it has deteriorated. If you find it gets damp, you should immediately place it in the sun to dry. After drying, put it up gently and cover it slowly to avoid crushing.

The bark of paeonol is slightly cold in nature, bitter and pungent in taste, and non-toxic. Enters the heart, liver and kidney meridians. It has the functions of clearing blood, promoting blood circulation and dispersing blood stasis. It is mainly used to treat macules and vomiting blood, blood stagnation, amenorrhea, premenstrual onset, carbuncle and sore, injury and blood stasis, yin deficiency, and anorexia. Clinically, it is mainly used to clear liver fire, cool blood and dissipate blood stasis (anti-inflammation, lower blood pressure), such as fever, night sweats, spontaneous sweating, headache, astringent eyes, and irregular menstruation caused by liver stagnation fire. It is often used with gardenia, bupleurum, etc. , such as "Danzhi Xiaoyao Powder". Based on its heat-dissipating and stasis-dissipating effects, rhubarb, honeysuckle, etc. are often used to treat local acute appendicitis, such as the addition and subtraction of "Rhubarb Mudan Decoction". People with fistula due to high blood pressure and arterialization and liver stagnation fever can take wild chrysanthemum, cassia, etc. to reduce blood pressure. If there is fever due to yin deficiency, "Artemisia annua and turtle shell decoction" can be used. For bleeding due to fever, rhinoceros horn and raw rehmannia root can be used to cool blood and stop bleeding; for those with blood stasis and pain after contusion on the chest, add paeonol bark and red mugwort to the prescription to cool blood and remove blood stasis. Therefore, paeonol is a commonly used medicine for treating internal fire in the blood, removing irritability and heat, and removing blood stasis or mass accumulation. Not only can paeonol be used in combination with other medicinal decoctions to treat general acute diseases, but it can also be made into pills and tablets that are slowly absorbed, have long-lasting efficacy and are easy to take, carry and store. For example, the "Liuwei Rehmannia Wan" produced by Shandong Heze Factory contains Caozhou Fendan Bark. The medicine is a small dense pill weighing 6g. Because the entire formula uses "authentic" medicinal materials and high-quality jujube honey as auxiliary materials, the pills are of good quality and can treat kidney yin deficiency, soreness and weakness of waist and knees, dizziness, tinnitus and deafness, night sweats, spermatorrhea, thirst, bone steaming and hot flashes, etc. The curative effect is remarkable. The factory then added wolfberry and chrysanthemum to the basic ingredients of this recipe to produce "Qiju Dihuang Pills". It is mainly used to treat symptoms such as blurred vision or dryness and pain caused by kidney yin deficiency. It is an ideal medicine for middle-aged and elderly patients with eye diseases. The concentrated "pharyngitis tablets" produced by Shandong Heze Jianmin Traditional Chinese Medicine Factory add paeonol bark to the prescription to obtain its effect of clearing away heat and purging fire, and assist Scrophulariaceae and Isatis root to enhance the nourishing and detoxifying effects. This medicine has the functions of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, clearing away heat and detoxifying, clearing the throat, and relieving cough and itching. It is used for itchy throat, dry throat, and irritating cough caused by chronic pharyngitis with good effect.

Peony - the national flower of China

"The national beauty is the color of wine in the morning, and the fragrance of heaven is the fragrance of dyeing clothes at night." The peony's national color and fragrance have been praised by people since ancient times. The history of peony cultivation has been recorded as early as the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. By the Tang and Song Dynasties, peony cultivation technology had developed greatly. In the Tang Dynasty, peonies were even more beautiful and were known as the "King of Flowers". "The spring breeze is so good that the horse's hoof is broken, and I can see all the Chang'an flowers in one day." The Chang'an flower here is the peony. The Ming Dynasty moved the capital to Beijing and planted peonies all over the Kek Lok Temple. During the Qing Dynasty, a prince went to Kek Lok Temple to see peonies and inscribed a plaque saying: "National Flower Temple". It can be seen that peony has been crowned as the national flower as far back as the Qing Dynasty. China's peony cocoon is famous in the world. In his book "The Origin of Species", Darwin also used the artificial cultivation of Chinese peonies to create new varieties as an example as evidence for the "doctrine of natural selection and artificial selection." Peonies are also cherished by people all over the world. In the eighth century, Chinese peonies were introduced to Japan, France in 1330, the Netherlands in 1656, and the United States in 1820. So far, Chinese peonies have been cultivated in more than 20 countries. Peonies are inseparable from Chinese culture. Legend has it that during the Tang Dynasty, Wu Zetian got drunk in winter and caused all the flowers to bloom, but Peony did not resist the decree and was demoted to Luoyang. Since then, it has been known as "Luoyang Peony is the best in the world". It can also be seen from this that Peony's character of not being afraid of abuse, power, and being unfazed by hardship and adversity is consistent with the special integrity of the Chinese nation. During the Ming Dynasty, peonies in Caozhou (Puze), Shandong Province were once again in great demand, earning the reputation of the "Hometown of Peonies".

Peony flower language:

Peony: perfection, passion, wealth

Autumn peony: life, expectation, light love

China Main producing areas of peonies:

1: Luoyang, Henan