1459

 

Paeonia officinalis L.

Synonym	:	Moutan officinalis (L.) Lindl. & Paxton
Family	:	Paeoniaceae
Local name	:	English- common peony
Flowering and fruiting period	:	May
Distribution	:	native to Southern Europe
Habitat	:	Rocky woodlands and meadows,  usually on limestone
Uses		The root is antispasmodic, diuretic, sedative and tonic. The root is harvested in the autumn from plants that are at least two years old and is dried for later use.  It has been successfully employed in the treatment of convulsions and spasmodic nervous affections such as epilepsy. It has also been used in the treatment of whooping cough whilst suppositories are sometimes made of the root to relieve anal and intestinal spasms.
Key botanical characters:  It is a small, somewhat shrubby, herbaceous perennial that typically grows to 2' tall and as wide on erect stems clad with divided leaves. Fragrant flowers bloom in late spring. Foliage remains attractive throughout the summer and early fall, and then dies to the ground after frost. Single, fragrant, cup-shaped, crimson red flowers (to 5" diameter) with yellow center stamens bloom in May. Blooms are mildly fragrant. Cultivated varieties of this species include plants with pink or white (sometimes double) flowers.