| Classification |
| Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order Type: Eudicots-Lower Rosids
Order: Saxifragales
Family: Paeoniaceae
Family Common Name: Peony Family
Genus: Paeonia |
Defining Features: This family
is very similar to Ranunculaceae, but having arillated seeds, persistent
sepals, stamen maturing centrifugally and pistils being borne on a disc
make it different.
Defining Morphology: Floral
Features: Inflorescence of solitary flowers. Flowers are large, showy,
bisexual, and actinomorphic with centrifugal stamens. Ovaries are superior.
Fruit and Seed Features: Dicotyledon. Fruit a cluster of follicles. Seeds
are arillate and testa is fleshy. Vegetative Features: Habit as herbs to
shrubs. Leaves are spiral, compound, alternate, or 1-2 pinnate, estipulate.
Distribution: Temperate Eurasia,
and North America.
Economic Use: As cultivated
garden ornamentals.
Number of Genera Globally:
1
Number of Species Globally:
33
