| Paeonia peregrina | |
|---|---|
 | |
| P. peregrina,Curtis's Botanical Magazine, vol.144 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Paeoniaceae |
| Genus: | Paeonia |
| Species: | P. peregrina |
| Binomial name | |
| Paeonia peregrina | |
Paeonia peregrina is a species offlowering plant in thepeony familyPaeoniaceae,native toSoutheastern Europe andTurkey. It is an erect,herbaceousperennial with 9-lobed, deeply divided leaves. Single, glossy red flowers, 10–13 cm (4–5 in) in diameter, with prominent yellowstamens, are borne in spring (May in theNorthern Hemisphere).[1]
Peregrina, comes from theLatinperegrīnus (foreigner), fromperegrē (to be abroad).Paeonia, comes fromAncient Greek:paiōnía (παιωνία), related topaiṓnios (healing) andpaiôn (physician), asPaiā́npaean. According toHomer,Paean was the physician of theOlympian gods, considered byHesiod as an individual deity who "knows the remedies for all things". After the period of Homer and Hesiod, the word Paean become anepithet ofApollo and later ofAsclepius, son of Apollo, the god-healer.[2]
Paeonia peregrina is a Balkan species native to south-eastern Europe, distributed fromItaly,Albania,Greece,Macedonia,Serbia,Bulgaria,Romania toTurkey (Anatolia) andMoldova.[2]
It is a common species found in arid, rocky areas, at the edge offorests ormeadows and, less commonly, in grasses. It is usually found in the shade ofbroad-leaveddeciduous forests,pine forests ormixed forests.[2]
Known as the Romanian peony in Romania ("bujorul românesc"), thePaeonia peregrina is commonly present in the traditional culture andRomanian folklore, with an impressive variety of symbols mentioned inhistory,music, poetry,literature, painting, design andarchitecture.[2]
The flowers are also found as traditional motifs infolk costumes, traditional carpets,pottery and decorative arts. The Romanian peony is also associated with physical and spiritual beauty, as well as innocence, happiness and shyness (as expressed in "îmbujorare" - blushing). In many parts of the country, a beautiful young girl is said to be a "bujor de fată" ("girl peony"), while the redness in the cheeks denoting health and vitality is traditionally referred to as "bujori în obraji" ("peonies in the cheeks"). Handsome men are also associated with peonies in the saying "frumos ca un bujor" ("handsome as a peony"). In Romanian folk medicine, the peony has been valued as a plant with therapeutic properties. The name "Bujor" and its derivatives is also common assurnames,first names, town names, andstreet names.[2][3]
Starting during the reign ofKing Carol I, the idea of choosing a national flower was proposed. ThePaeonia peregrina was among the proposals, however none were ever accepted to be formally legislated. The project proposing the peony as the national flower was reactivated in June 2013 headed by professor Florin Toma of theUniversity of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest. Since its launch, the initiative enjoyed strong support, both nationally and internationally.[2][3]
On 27 September 2022, the peony was declared the "National Flower of Romania".[2] Since 2015, the red peony is also used as the floral symbol ofVeterans' Day, similar to theremembrance poppy, on 11 November and on 29 April.[3][4] The Romanian peony day is celebrated on 15 May.[5]
ThePaeonia peregrina is important inSerbian folklore. Known asKosovo peonies (Serbian:косовски божур,kosovski božur), they are said to represent the blood of Serbian warriors who died in theBattle of Kosovo.[6]
