Peony is a ranunculidus, a perennial deciduous shrub.
The stems are 2 m tall; the branches are short and thick. Leaves usually two to three leaves, occasionally near top branches leaves of 3 leaflets; terminal leaflet surface green, broadly ovate, glabrous, abaxially pale green, sometimes with white, lateral leaflets narrowly ovate or oblong ovate, petiole and rachis were 5-11 cm long, glabrous. Flowers single Acremonium, bracts 5, oblong; sepals 5, green, broadly ovate, petals 5 or rose petals, red, purple, pink or white, obovate, apex usually has great variation, irregular wavy; anthers oblong, ca. 4 mm long; disc leathery, cup shape, purple red carpels 5, thin; more densely pilose. Follicles oblong, densely brown hirsute. The flowering period is May; the fruit period is June.
Flower color is gorgeous, graceful but not showy, magnificent, known as the "king of flowers" in the world. In the cultivation type, mainly according to the color of the flower, it can be divided into hundreds of varieties. Peony variety, color, yellow, green, red, white and red meat for the top, especially yellow and green for you. The peony flower is big and sweet, and it is called "national beauty and heavenly fragrance". The Tang Dynasty Liu Yuxi has said: "no case before the court of the demon peony, lotus pond net less love. The only really Guose peony bloom season, moving the capital.". At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the peony had been regarded as the national flower of China. In May 1985 the peony was named China ten flowers of the two. It is a unique woody precious flower in China. It has thousands of years of natural growth and more than 1500 years of artificial cultivation. It is widely cultivated in China and has long been introduced to all parts of the world. Peony is popular as the king of flowers, rich in culture and painting.
Allusion
peony
Wu Zetian and Peony
In a winter snow flying days, Wu Zetian in Changan after the tour court, had ordered the flowers open at the same time, to help her drink. An amusement park said: "tomorrow morning, rushed to Primula know, flowers to be made through the night, Mo to be wind blowing." Everyone knows that all kinds of flowers are not only different in the season of flowering, but also in the time of flowering. Violet rose in bloom in spring, Summer Chrysanthemum in full bloom, blooming in late autumn, plum blossom in Winter Rose, peony Qiao; open in the morning and evening primrose, Yuhua open at night. Therefore, it is difficult to make the hundred flowers obey the will of people and open up at the same time. But the flowers not Wu after power, are contrary to the open, only the peony still Mikie withered leaves, stand proudly. After the fury, the peony was derogated to Luoyang. A peony to Luoyang, immediately stood in full bloom, colorful flowers, beautiful mountain. The more angry Wu, ordered the death by fire unexpectedly, peony, peony with a burning fire, but the smoke, Hong Ruo is more graceful, very spectacular. It shows that peony does not fear power and bravery and unyielding character.
Suiti and Peony
In 604, Suiti and Yang Guang succeeded in opening up Xiyuan in the East Luoyang. Suiti was curious about the stone and had been searching the south of the south for three times. The peony is planted in Xiyuan. According to the records: "the emperor to two hundred in Xiyuan, Chao world into flower. Yizhou into the twenty peony, there are flying red, Yuan Jiahong. Drunken red, Yunhong, red in the sky, a whisk of yellow, Yanan yellow, Xian Chunhong, chatter and other precious varieties.
Yang, imperial concubine and Peony
In Tang Dynasty, the palace began to pay attention to the peony, and Xingqing in the East, Mount Li palace before Shen Xiang Pavilion, planting a number of red, purple, light red and white peony color etc.. Flowers open, Yang with the maids tour among the flowers, in ecstasies. The five generation Wang Ren Yu carrying: "Yang Guozhong first because of the imperial concubine special favor, to give the wood Peony (that is peony) number, planted at home." According to the load, the peony was loved by the imperial concubine, and Tang Minghuang was given the peony to her brother as a favorite.
Ou Yangxiu and Peony
Ou Yangxiu, word permanent uncle, call herself ong, late, 61 Buddhist, Ling (now Jiangxi Ji'an) people. When Ou Yangxiu was in Luoyang as an official, he found "the custom of Luoyang, a good flower, and in spring, there was no flower in the city." The flowers, Shishu travel conditions according to the load, then Luoyang City, whether the people, or officer school, full of peony planting. Ou Yangxiu visited the whole country to make a detailed investigation of the history, cultivation, varieties and customs of Luoyang peony, and was the first peony book of China called "Luoyang peony".
Pu Songling and Peony
Pu Songling, a famous writer and thinker of the Qing Dynasty. In the "Pu Songling": Strange Tales from Liaozhai Chang Dayong, Luo, peony mania. Wen Jia Qi and Lu Caozhou peony, yearn for. Suitable to him as Cao, because of their false Yuan Ju yan. In February, the peony was not in China, but the garden was hovering in the garden. And wrote the mythology of the kudzu and the jade edition.
Mao Zedong and Peony
Mao Zedong was very fond of the peony, 1935, Mao Zedong led the Red Army after twenty-five thousand March arrived in Northern Shaanxi Yanan revolutionary base in the harsh Day War clearance, led by Zhou Enlai and Zhu De to go to Yanan to enjoy the peony in the peony wanhuashan, leaves on the side said: "here is a natural peony, it should be protected. Wait until the liberation of the country, to build a people's park here." In the winter of 1950, Mao Zedong took a walk in the garden of Zhongnanhai. He walked to the peony and stopped. He told the story of Wu Zetian and the peony with his staff. He said with great interest, "young people must have the character of peony and don't be afraid of violence.
