Delavay's tree peony

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Delavay's tree peony
• tree peony
• yellow tree peony
• Delavay's tree peony

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Paeonia lutea f. superba
• Paeonia potaninii
• Paeonia delavayi var. lutea
• Paeonia delavayi subsp. lutea
• Paeonia delavayi f. lutea
• Paeonia delavayi f. superba
• Paeonia delavayi f. trollioides
• Paeonia delavayi var. alba
• Paeonia delavayi f. alba
• Paeonia delavayi var. angustiloba
• Paeonia delavayi subsp. angustiloba
• Paeonia delavayi var. atropurpurea
• Paeonia handel-mazzettii
• Paeonia forrestii
• Paeonia forrestii var. trollioides
• Paeonia franchetii
• Paeonia lutea var. superba
• Paeonia lutea
• Paeonia potaninii f. alba
• Paeonia potaninii var. trollioides
• Paeonia trollioides

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Paeonia delavayi, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Saxifragales. Finally, it is a member of the family Paeoniaceae and falls under the genus Paeonia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range located within the eastern part of Asia. Its presence is primarily documented in the regions of China South-Central. Additionally, the species can be found growing in the high-altitude areas of Tibet. These two distinct locations define the core habitat where the plant naturally occurs. Consequently, its distribution is closely tied to these specific Chinese territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Paeonia delaayi is characterized by its specialization in high-altitude montane environments, where it thrives within specific altitudinal gradients. This species is typically found across a significant vertical span, occupying niches that begin at a minimum elevation of 1,950 m AMSL. As the terrain ascends, the plant's distribution extends upward toward a maximum elevation of 3,700 m AMSL, indicating a high tolerance for the rigorous conditions found in alpine or sub-alpine zones. On average, the species is most frequently encountered at a mean elevation of approximately 3,000 m AMSL, a positioning that suggests its ecological preference for the cool, temperate climates and unique soil compositions characteristic of mid-to-high mountain ranges.

Elevational range max:

3700 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1950 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Paeonia delavayi is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years and undergoes repeated seasonal growth cycles. As a long-lived herbaceous perennial, it develops robust underground structures, typically in the form of thick, fleshy rhizomes or tuberous roots, which serve as vital energy storage organs to survive dormant periods during harsh environmental conditions. Its developmental cycle begins with a period of active vegetative growth in the spring, fueled by the stored nutrients from the previous season, leading to the emergence of lush foliage and the subsequent production of large, showy flowers. Following pollination, the plant transitions into a reproductive phase where it produces seeds, eventually entering a state of seasonal dormancy as temperatures drop or moisture becomes scarce. This perennial lifecycle allows the species to establish a stable presence in its natural habitat, repeatedly cycling through stages of growth, reproduction, and rest over many years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Paeonia delaayi is characterized by a growth form that ranges from a shrub to a subshrub, typically exhibiting a non-woody structure. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, whether obligatory or facultative. On average, the plant reaches a height of approximately 1.5 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Paeonia delaayi is characterized by a specialized carbon fixation strategy and specific vegetative morphological dimensions. As a plant employing the C3 photosynthetic pathway, it utilizes the Calvin cycle for carbon assimilation, which is typical for many temperate herbaceous perennials. The leaf morphology exhibits specific physiological scaling, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 15 cm to a maximum of 20 cm. Across its developmental stages and environmental exposures, the plant maintains a mean leaf length of 17.5 cm, reflecting its structural adaptations for light interception and gas exchange within its native habitat.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

17.5 cm

Leaf length min:

15 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Paeonia delavayi culminates in the development of distinct fruit structures that vary in size and shape. The fruits produced by this species exhibit specific morphological dimensions, with lengths typically ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 3.5 cm, maintaining an average length of approximately 3.25 cm. In terms of width, the fruits show a broader range of variation, starting from a minimum width of 1.2 cm and reaching a maximum of 2 cm, with a mean width measured at 1.6 cm. These dimensional characteristics are essential for the successful dispersal and propagation of the plant's progeny.

Fruit length max:

3.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

3.25 cm

Fruit length min:

3 cm

Fruit width max:

2 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.6 cm

Fruit width min:

1.2 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Paeonia delavayi has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
2. Journal of Asian natural products research
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Paeonia delavayi has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, 4-O-ethylpaeoniflorin, 6'-O-Benzoylalbiflorin, Akebonic Acid, Benzoylpaeoniflorin.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Frontiers in plant science

4-O-ethylpaeoniflorin

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

6'-O-Benzoylalbiflorin

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Akebonic Acid

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Benzoylpaeoniflorin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Paeoniflorin

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Paeonilide

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Pentagalloylglucose

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

luteolin

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

triterpenoids

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Activities

Paeonia delavayi has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cardiovascular.

Cardiovascular

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Paeonia delavayi has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include influenza virus.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations