Current status and ornamental potential of endangered dwarf peony in China.

摘要

Peonies belong to the genus Paeonia and have been cultivated for their ornamental and medicinal value for more than two thousand years. Dwarf peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andr. var. spontanea Rehd.) is a species native to China and is believed to be the ancestor of modern peonies. This species is also genetically important in breeding new cultivars of cultivated peonies. In addition, it is valuable research material for plant evaluation of modern peonies. Now dwarf peony has been listed as an endangered species in the world but studies on its endangered mechanism and ornamental potential are not well documented. In nature the limited population of dwarf peony is distributed in the adjacent regions of Shaanxi, Shanxi and Henan Provinces of North China, where its habitat is substantially disturbed. This study provides information on its natural distribution and explains its possible endangered mechanisms. In order to explore its ornamental and potential herbal values, strategies of its protection and utilization are proposed.