Paeonia rockii

Paeonia rockii, or Rock's peony, is a woody species of tree peony that was named after Joseph Rock. It is one of several species given the vernacular name tree peony, and is native to the mountains of Gansu and adjoining provinces in China. In Chinese, it is known as 紫斑牡丹 (pinyin: zǐbān mǔdān).

Paeonia rockii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Paeoniaceae
Genus: Paeonia
Species:
P. rockii
Binomial name
Paeonia rockii
(S.G.Haw & Lauener) T.Hong & J.J.Li
Synonyms[1]
  • P. moutan subsp. atava Brühl
  • P. rockii subsp. linyanshanii (Halda) T.Hong & G.L.Osti ex X.Y.Zhu & T.Hong
  • P. rockii subsp. taibaishanica D.Y.Hong
  • P. suffruticosa var linyanshanii Halda
  • P. suffruticosa subsp. atava (Brühl) S.G.Haw & Lauener

Uses

Paeonia rockii is cultivated as an ornamental plant in Asia and the west. Like Paeonia lactiflora, another Chinese peony species, it is used as a herbal remedy in traditional Chinese medicine.[2]

Features

Paeonia rockii is known for the obvious black, purple, and brown-red spots at the base of petals. Its main features are:

  • Tall plant, can reach 2–3 m (6.6–9.8 ft) high, crown width 3–4 m (9.8–13.1 ft).
  • Big and bright flower, the diameter can reach 18–25 cm (7–10 in).
  • Strong fragrance; the smell of one open flower can dominate that of ten other open flowers from another peony.
  • Resistance to drought and frost; tolerance of salt and base. Can bear temperatures as low as −43 °C (−45 °F); can still grow normally at pH above 7.

Rockii hybrids

Tree peony hybrids with Paeonia rockii as one parent are called Rockii hybrids. In China there are several cultivar groups of these hybrids, called Gansu Mudan and Zhongyuan Mudan, or North-West Chinese cultivar group. The European-grown Suffruticosa Group (Paeonia × suffruticosa) also belongs here.

  • Bud
    Bud
  • Fruit
    Fruit
  • Flower
    Flower
  • Flowering Tree peony (Paeonia rockii)
    Flowering Tree peony (Paeonia rockii)

References
  1. Hong, D.-Y. (2010), Peonies of the World, Kew Publishing and Missouri Botanical Garden, ISBN 978-1-84246-392-5
  2. Halda, Josef J.; Waddick, James W. (2004). The Genus Paeonia. Timber Press. pp. 196–205. ISBN 978-0-88192-612-5.

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