PÆONIA officinalis. _Thunb. Fl. Jap. 230._--_Loureir. Fl. Cochin. 1. 343._ DESCRIPTIO. Suffrutex 3-pedalis et ultra, ramosus. _Rami_ erectiusculi, cortice subfusco; ramulis erectis lævibus, apicem versus viridibus, pauloque pubescentibus. _Folia_ alterna, bipinnata, pedalia et ultra, horizontalia; superiora adscendentia; petiolis amplexicaulibus, canaliculatis, villis perpaucis sæpe instructis, canaliculâ, petiolorum semper lætissime roseâ; pinnæ 2-4, petiolatæ; pinnulæ sæpe 3, sessiles, infimæ oppositæ, tertia terminalis; omnes basi oblique cuneatæ, superne irregulariter inciso-dentatæ; supra virides, venosæ, nudæ, subtus glaucæ, nervosæ, villosæ. _Flores_ speciosissimi ut in affinibus, sed in nostris exemplaribus pleni, rosei. _Capsulæ_ sericeo-pubescentes. The Pæonia suffruticosa is perhaps the most showy and desirable species, in this short but magnificent genus of plants. To the striking peculiarity of a shrubby stem, it unites the advantages of superior size; a profusion of very large flowers; and a facility of culture which ensures an annual succession of them: no wonder, therefore, that it is assiduously sought after by all who admire the beauties of Flora. The shrubby Pæony was introduced into Britain in the year 1794, from China; where, as well as in Japan, many varieties of it are said to be common in almost every garden. We conceive it to be extremely distinct as a species, from the P. officinalis of all authors except Thunberg and Loureiro: yet Professor Willdenow has not enumerated it in his edition of Species Plantarum. Although introduced so long since, it is still rare; and must be treated as a very hardy green-house plant: indeed it succeeds best when planted in the earth and protected by a glass case; is propagated by slipping the roots, and by cuttings. All the plants hitherto received from China have double flowers; and among them there are two varieties; the rosy one here figured, from the Clapham collection; and another with purplish petals, the bases of which are of a still deeper colour. Flowers in April, making a very fine appearance; but is nearly scentless. [Illustration] PLATE CCCLXXIV. XERANTHEMUM PROLIFERUM. _Proliferous Eternal Flower._ CLASS XIX. ORDER II. _SYNGENESIA POLYGAMIA SUPERFLUA._ Tips united. Superfluous Pointals. ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER. RECEPTACULUM paleaceum, aut nudum. Pappus setaceus. Calyx imbricatus, radiatus; radio colorato. RECEPTACLE chaffy, or naked. Feather bristly. Empalement tiled, rayed; the ray coloured. SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C. XERANTHEMUM, caule fruticoso prolifero, floribus sessilibus, foliis granulato-subrotundis imbricatis obsoletis. XERANTHEMUM, with a shrubby proliferous stem, sessile flowers, leaves grain-shaped roundish tiled and obsolete. XERANTHEMUM proliferum. _Mant. Pl. 467._--_Gmel. Syst. Nat. 2. 1218._