Do You Know How To Distinguish between Tree Paenoia And Peonies

Do You Know How To Distinguish between Tree Paenoia And Peonies？

Paeonia and peony both belong to the family Ranunculaceae and the genus Paeonia. In ancient times, peonies and peonies were indistinguishable. Later on, there was a saying for woody peonies and herbaceous peonies. Later on, woody peonies became peonies, and herbaceous peonies are what we now call peonies. 

In the Compendium of Materia Medica, Li Shizhen said that peonies "were called wooden peonies in the Tang Dynasty, with their flowers resembling peonies and their stems resembling trees. Among the group of flower varieties, peonies were the first and peonies were the second. Therefore, it was said that peonies were the king of flowers and peonies were the appearance of flowers." The main differences between the two are as follows:
The difference between stems: This is the essential difference between peony and peony. The peony stem is woody, with upright and brittle branches that are round in shape. Several branches are clustered from the root and stem to form a shrub shape. The annual branches are relatively smooth, and most of the branches are still herbaceous, yellow brown. The stem is thick and easy to break. After falling leaves in winter, the woody branches still stand upright, while the non woody ones will dry and die; The stem of peony is herbaceous, with clustered roots and rapid growth. The sunny part of the stem is mostly purple red, and it is about 50-110 centimeters tall every year. It will all die after frost in autumn.
The difference in leaves: peony leaves are wide, often split into three petals at the tip, and the front is green with a slight yellow color; The leaves of peony are narrow, with a pointed tip that no longer splits, and both sides are black green in color. This is the most direct and simple way to distinguish between the two.

Differences in flowers: Peony flowers are mostly solitary and grow at the top, with a diameter of about 20 centimeters and a variety of colors, including white, yellow, pink, red, magenta, purple, ink purple (black), snow blue (pink blue), green, and multiple colors; Peony flowers have one or several top growing flowers, with a diameter of about 15 centimeters. The colors include pure white, pink, slightly red, deep red, purple red, light red, golden, etc.

Difference in flowering period: Peony generally blooms in late April, while peony blooms in early to mid May. Therefore, there is a saying that "peony blooms about half a month earlier than peony in the three seasons of grain and rain, and peony in the three seasons of beginning summer.".
The difference in fruit: Peony fruit is a follicular fruit, with five corners and 5-15 large seeds inside. It is brown, round in shape, orange when mature, and black brown when old;