Paeonia brownii
| Paeonia brownii | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Paeoniaceae |
| Genus: | Paeonia |
| Species: | P. brownii |
| Binomial name | |
| Paeonia brownii Douglas ex Hook. | |
Paeonia brownii (Brown's peony or native peony), is an herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Paeoniaceae.[1]
The species name is after Scottish botanist Robert Brown.[2]
Habitat and range
It is native to dry climate areas of the western United States. It grows below 10,000' in open areas of sagebrush scrub[1] and mixed coniferous forest (Ponderosa pine country) in the northern and north central Sierra Nevada.[1]
Excepting Paeonia californica, which is sometimes considered a subspecies, this is the only Paeonia native to North America.
Native to the western United States, P. californica grows in southern California, and subspecies brownii is native to Wyoming and Utah.[2]
The species grows at high elevations and experiences long, cold winters with little or no snow and a short growing season, while subsp. californica is less cold hardy, and is a near-desert succulent, going a year or more without rain.[2]
Description
Growth pattern
It is 8"-16" tall with a flower that hangs down, sometimes to the ground.[1]
Leaves and stem
It has 5-8 blue-green, deeply dissected leaves.
Inflorescence and fruit
It has one or more flowers, 1" wide, often opening facing downward.[1] Corollas have 5-6 green sepals that persist, and are larger than the petals.[1] Petals are leathery and dark maroon to bronze or brown, with yellow tinged edges.[1] Numerous stamens mature from the center outward, born on a fleshy disk.[1] Fruits are cylindrical with a few large seeds.[1]
Flowering occurs in April to June,[1] followed by a long dormancy.
References
- The Genus Paeonia - Josef J. Halda and James W. Waddick - Timber Press (ISBN 0-88192-612-4)