Population Structure of Peony in Northwest China

Have you ever been to the northwest China? Well, it is the place for the growing of peonies. In today's article, I'll tell you something about the population structure of peony in northwest, south and southwest China.

Peony in Northwest China

1. Historical Evolution

The ornamental cultivation of peony in northwest China began in Tang Dynasty. Peony has long been cultivated in Tianshui area of Gansu Province. Peony cultivation flourished in northwest China during Ming and Qing Dynasties, such as the cultivation center Linfu known as “Xiaoluoyang” at that time.

 

2. Cultivation Distribution

It is divided into in the middle and upper reaches of Weihe River in Gansu Province; Xiahe, Linxia and Zhengzhou in the middle and lower reaches of Daxia River; Lintao and Kangle in the lower reaches of Taohe River; Lanzhou and Yuzhong; Pingliang in Longdong is also cultivated. In addition, Xining, Qinghai and its eastern areas, Xi'an,Shaanxi and its western areas and Guyuan,Ningxia are also distributed. The cultivation center is located in Lanzhou, Linxia and Lintao.

 

3. Wild Peony

The wild distribution areas of p.rockii and paeomia spontanea are mainly in the Loess Plateau and the Yellow River Basin. It can be proved from the main characters of northwest Peony varieties that the main wild species of northwest Peony varieties group is p.rockii aka paeomia rockii , but also has the blood relationship of paeomia spontanea.

 

4. Main Characteristics

(1) The plant is tall. The annual growth is the largest, the leaf shape seldom changes.

(2) The base of the petals has large dark purple or purple-red spots. The petals are thick and fragrant.

(3) The degree of flower pattern evolution was lower than that of the Central Plains cultivar group. There are fewer varieties of Taige flowers.

(4) There are many varieties, about 100 varieties. Flowering time is long.

(5) For other characteristics, they are cold-resistant, drought-resistant, alkali-resistant, vigorous growth, fewer diseases and insect pests, can be planted in cold, arid northwest China.

 

Peony in South China

1. Historical Evolution

Since the Song Dynasty, there have been dozens of excellent varieties. The transfer of cultivation centers in the past dynasties is as follows: Hangzhou (Song Dynasty) Jiyang (Ming Dynasty, Jiangyin in Jiangsu Province today, Zhuji in Zhejiang Province) Tongling, Ningguo, Hangzhou, Shanghai (Qing Dynasty) Tongling, Ningguo, Hangzhou and Shanghai.

 

2. Cultivation Distribution

Distribution in Anwei, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other provinces. Tongling, Ningguo, Hangzhou and Shanghai are the cultivation centers. The main cultivation areas are Yancheng (Jiangsu), Lechang (Guangdong), Nanchang (Jiangxi) and so on.

 

3. Wild Origin

The main original species is Paeonia suffruticosa.

 

4. Main Characteristics

(1) The plant is tall. Annual branch length, less soil buds, strong branching, flowering, spectacular.

(2) Flowering early, local florescence from early April to late April.

(3) There are many varieties in history. If Jinan collected 103 varieties in Peony Peony Spectrum (1890), the peony in Jiaxing area became famous for a time.

(5) Shallow root system, heat and humidity resistance, suitable for planting in the vast areas of southern China.

 

Peony in Southwest China

1. Historical Evolution

Tianpeng (Pengzhou City, Sichuan Province) peony has been cultivated since the Tang Dynasty. Its main producing area is Danjingshan, where many peony species are grown. By the Song Dynasty, Luoyang varieties were introduced and cultivated vigorously. Lu You wrote in Tianpeng Peony Spectrum (1178): "About 100 kinds of flowers, including 40 authors." By the end of the Qing Dynasty, Tianpeng Peony had declined, and now it has resumed its development.

 

2. Cultivation Distribution

It is distributed in Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and Tibet. Pengzhou and Chengdu are the cultivation centers, mainly in Dali, Lijiang, Zhaotong, Wuding, Guiyang, Lhasa and other places.

 

3. Wild Origin

Tianpeng Peony was mainly introduced from the Central Plains and northwest China. The varieties adapted to the local ecological environment remained, and the local original varieties were cultivated and bred through generations. It can be seen from the quotation that the wild original species of Tianpeng peony should be mainly purple spot peony and dwarf peony, or the pedigree of Yangshan peony.

 

4. Main Characteristics

(1) The plant is tall. Leaves large, pedicels long, petals base with purple spots or red halo. The branches and leaves are thick and sparse. Lijiang cultivars have narrow leaves, shallow apical fissures, few notches and many foot buds.

(2) Shallow root system, strong growth potential.

The evolution degree of flower pattern is high, and there are many varieties of Pavilion flower.

(5) Flower diameter is large, the amount of flowers is small, and the flowering period is long.

 

To sum up, the horticultural variety system of Chinese peony has evolved from one main line and several secondary lines in terms of historical development. The main line of development is the Central Plains breed group, while the secondary lines are the northwest breed group, the Jiangnan breed group and the Southwest breed group.

 

From the point of view of historical evolution, they can communicate with each other and merge with each other. However, due to the difference of natural conditions and main wild provenances in the locations of each species group, different species groups with different characteristics are still formed. Therefore, in the regions where the cultivars are close to each other, there is often a clear phenomenon of communication among the cultivars. For example, Yan'an peony cultivars showed obvious blending phenomenon between the Central Plains cultivar group and the northwest cultivar group.