PAEONIA (PAEONIACEAE) IN XIZANG (TIBET)

A taxonomic revision of Paeonia in Xizang is presented, and of the fiv e species recognized, P. ludlowii, P. sterniana, P. delavayi, P. emodi , and P. veitchii, the first two are endemic. A new combination, P. lu dlowii (Stern & Taylor) Hong, is proposed. A considerable search for P . moutan var. atava in its type locality led to the conclusion that th e taxon is P. rockii subsp. rockii, a native of north-central China in troduced to Xizang by Buddhist monks. Reproductive and other biologica l features of the woody P. ludlowii and P. delavayi are described. A k ey to species is given.