Wild peonies in the hills and mountains of Greece are among the most beautiful and impressive plants with large white, violet or red flowers that stand out among their beautiful foliage. Forty years ago, their spread in Greece was very little known and even less studied their classification and nomenclature. Extensive botanical research and detailed study in the last forty years have resulted in today's understandable, well-documented and abundantly illustrated reference to the genus Paeonia as represented in Greece. The monograph is also an important contribution to the knowledge of Mediterranean peonies as a whole.
Starting with their pharmaceutical reputation and mythology as recorded by the Ancient Greeks, the history of research on peonies is traced from ancient herbalists to modern botanical literature and includes illustrations from rare early works as well as contemporary works specifically done for this plant.
This book provides detailed information on all species and subspecies of Paeonia found on the Greek islands and in the Greek mainland. It also examines their morphology, geographical distribution, and cultivation.