Paeonia mascula

Paeonia mascula is a species of peony. It is a herbaceous perennial 0.5–1.5 m (1.6–4.9 ft) tall,[2] with leaves that are divided into three segments, and large red flowers in late spring and early summer. Native to Syria, Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria[3] Greece, Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Israel,[1] this wild peony has become naturalised on two small islands in the UK.[4]

Paeonia mascula
(from Sardinia)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Paeoniaceae
Genus: Paeonia
Species:
P. mascula
Binomial name
Paeonia mascula
Synonyms[1]
  • Paeonia corallina Retz.
  • Paeonia integra J.A.Murray
  • Paeonia integrifolia Link
  • Paeonia mas Garsault nom. illeg.
  • Paeonia mascula L. ex Desf. nom. illeg.
  • Paeonia mascula L. ex Beck nom. illeg.

Taxonomy

The following subspecies have been defined.[1]

  • Paeonia mascula subsp. mascula
  • Paeonia mascula subsp. bodurii
  • Paeonia mascula subsp. hellenica
  • Paeonia mascula subsp. russoi.

Location
Paeonia mascula ssp. russoi, Cephalonia

Paeonia mascula is at risk in its natural environment due to the demand from private collectors and there is a significant trade in wild P. mascula from Turkey.[5]

Ideal conditions are light (sandy) soils although and most peonies can grow in heavy clay soil. The Wild Peony prefers acid and neutral soils, can grow in semi-shade and tolerates drought.[2]

The wild peony was introduced to the island of Steep Holm in the Bristol Channel, possibly by monks.[6] 37 plants were taken to nearby Flat Holm island by Frank Harris, the farmer at the time, in the 1930s, many of which died during the World War II occupation and fortification of the island. One remaining plant was reintroduced by the Flat Holm Warden in 1982 and is protected by fencing near the path to the lighthouse. A few plants grown from seed also survive in the farmhouse garden.[7]

Flowering cycle
Wild peony on Flat Holm island beginning to bud in early May

Paeonia mascula flowers for just one week of the year normally in May or June in the Northern Hemisphere, and the seedpods (at one stage referred to as jester's hats develop during the summer before bursting open to scatter seeds in August or September.[8] The flowers are hermaphrodite and pollinated by insects. The plant is self-fertile.[2]

Steep Holm and Flat Holm are the only known places in the UK where the wild peony has naturalised. The likely reason for this is that the islands provide a habitat similar to the Mediterranean islands where the plants originate from and the relative isolation allows them some protection.[5]

Uses

The roots of P. mascula were ground to a powder and used to treat colds and sore throats.[9]

  • Open fruit, showing the seeds
  • The fruit known as jester's hats
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References
  1. Hong, D.-Y. (2010), Peonies of the World, Kew Publishing and Missouri Botanical Garden, pp. 181–189, ISBN 978-1-84246-392-5CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  2. Plants For A Future: Paeonia mascula, retrieved 2016-07-21
  3. "Paeonia mascula". Red Book of Bulgaria, vol. I. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
  4. "Paeonia mascula". Online Atlas of British & Irish Flora. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  5. The Peony Society: Wild Species, retrieved 2008-04-30
  6. The Peony Society: Steep Holm
  7. Cardiff Council Flat Holm Project records accessed 2008-05-08
  8. Flat Holm Island, Cardiff Council, 2004, pp. 46–47, ISBN 0-902466-14-3
  9. M.Grieve. "A Modern Herbal". Retrieved 2008-04-12.
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