Paeonia mascula
Encyclopedia
The Wild Peony also known as the Male or Balkan Peony and sometimes referred to by the synonym Paeonia corallina is a species of peony
. A herbaceous perennial plant 0.5–1.5 metres tall, the Wild Peony has leaves which are divided into three segments and large red flowers in late spring and early summer. Native to China
, Italy
, Morocco
, Spain
, Greece
, Turkey
, Lebanon
and Israel
this wild peony has become naturalised on two small islands in the UK.
Ideal conditions are light (sandy) soils although and most peonies can grow in heavy clay soil. The Wid 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
in the Bristol Channel
, possibly by monks, and has naturalised. 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.
Paeonia mascula flowers for just one week of the year normally in May or June 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
and pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
The islands are the only known place in the UK where the Wild Peony has naturalised. The likely reason for this is that the islands provide a habitat which is similar to the Mediterranean islands where the plants originate from and the relative isolation allows them some protection.
Peony
Peony or paeony is a name for plants in the genus Paeonia, the only genus in the flowering plant family Paeoniaceae. They are native to Asia, southern Europe and western North America...
. A herbaceous perennial plant 0.5–1.5 metres tall, the Wild Peony has leaves which are divided into three segments and large red flowers in late spring and early summer. Native to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
this wild peony has become naturalised on two small islands in the UK.
Location
Wild peonies are at risk in their natural environment due to the demand from private collectors and there is a significant trade in wild Peonia mascula from Turkey.Ideal conditions are light (sandy) soils although and most peonies can grow in heavy clay soil. The Wid Peony prefers acid and neutral soils, can grow in semi-shade and tolerates drought.
The Wild Peony was introduced
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
to the island of Steep Holm
Steep Holm
Steep Holm 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. It lies within the historic boundaries of Somerset and administratively, it forms part of North Somerset...
in the Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
, possibly by monks, and has naturalised. 37 plants were taken to nearby Flat Holm
Flat Holm
Flat Holm is a limestone island lying in the Bristol Channel approximately from Lavernock Point in the Vale of Glamorgan, but in the City and County of Cardiff. It includes the most southerly point of Wales....
island by Frank Harris, the farmer at the time, in the 1930s, many of which died during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
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
Hermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
and pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
The islands are the only known place in the UK where the Wild Peony has naturalised. The likely reason for this is that the islands provide a habitat which is similar to the Mediterranean islands where the plants originate from and the relative isolation allows them some protection.