''Paeonia mascula'' is a species of

peony The peony or paeony is a flowering plant in the genus ''Paeonia'' , the only genus in the family Paeoniaceae . Peonies are native to Asia, Europe and Western North America. Scientists differ on the number of species that can be distinguished, ...

. It is a

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

tall, with leaves that are divided into three segments, and large red flowers in late spring and early summer. Native to

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and

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, this wild peony has become naturalised on two small islands in the UK.

Taxonomy

The following subspecies have been defined. * ''Paeonia mascula'' subsp. ''mascula'' * ''Paeonia mascula'' subsp. ''bodurii'' * ''Paeonia mascula'' subsp. ''hellenica'' * ''Paeonia mascula'' subsp. ''russoi''.

Location

''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. 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. The wild peony was introduced to the island of

Steep Holm Steep Holm ( cy, Ynys Rhonech, ang, Ronech and later ) is an English island lying in the Bristol Channel. The island covers at high tide, expanding to at mean low water. At its highest point it is above mean sea level. Administratively it ...

in the Bristol Channel, possibly by monks. 37 plants were taken to nearby

Flat Holm Flat Holm ( cy, Ynys Echni) is a Welsh island lying in the Bristol Channel approximately from Lavernock Point in the Vale of Glamorgan. It includes the most southerly point of Wales. The island has a long history of occupation, dating at le ...

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.

Flowering cycle

''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. The flowers are

hermaphrodite In reproductive biology, a hermaphrodite () is an organism that has both kinds of reproductive organs and can produce both gametes associated with male and female sexes. Many Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic groups of animals (mostly invertebrate ...

and

pollinated Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther of a plant to the stigma of a plant, later enabling fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by wind. Pollinating agents can be animals such as insects, birds, ...

by insects. The plant is self-fertile. 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.

Uses

The roots of ''P. mascula'' were ground to a powder and used to treat colds and sore throats. Image:Wild Peony going to seed.jpg , Open fruit, showing the seeds Image:Wild Peony seed pods.jpg, The fruit known as jester's hats

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q161482 mascula Garden plants Flora of Bulgaria Flora of Lebanon Plants described in 1768 Taxa named by Philip Miller