Page author: David Giblin
Paeonia brownii
brown's peony, western peony
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; central Washington to California, east to Montana and Utah.

Habitat: Sagebrush deserts to ponderosa pine forest opening and edges.

Flowers: April-June

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees

Description:
General:

Glabrous, glaucous, herbaceous perennial from a fleshy root, the several decumbent stems 2-5 dm. tall.

Leaves:

Leaves alternate, large, leathery, ternate, with the leaflets deeply ternately parted, and the segments once- or twice-dissected into oblong segments 3-10 mm. broad.

Flowers:

Flowers solitary on short, terminal peduncles; sepals 5, unequal, leathery, greenish to purplish, oval, 1-2 cm. long; petals 5, brownish-reddish-purple, oval, about equaling the sepals, deciduous; a prominent, lobed, yellowish disk covering the ovary supports numerous, yellow stamens; carpels distinct, 5.

Fruits:

Follicles 5, leathery, 4-5 cm. long, divergent.

Accepted Name:
Paeonia brownii Douglas ex Hook.
Publication: Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 27. 1829.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
(none provided)
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Paeonia brownii in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Paeonia brownii checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Paeonia brownii information.

E-Flora BC: Paeonia brownii atlas page.

CalPhotos: Paeonia brownii photos.

USDA Plants: Paeonia brownii information.

59 photographs:
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