(2004)  Page(s) 83-90.  Includes photo(s).
 
Paeonia saueri D. Y. Hong, X. Q. Wang et D. M. Zhang is described as a new species from Greece and Albania based on population sampling, statistics, chromosome observation, and SEM observations. It is characterized by tuberous roots, a high number of leaflets/segments, adaxially setulose along the veins on leaves, and a chromosome number of 2n = 20. It is closely related to P. peregrina. However, as shown by cluster analysis (Fig.3) and principal coordinate analysis (Fig. 4), it differs distinctly from the latter in having mostly entire leaflets/segments that are hispidulous beneath, and red stigmas. From P. officinalis it differs in having the leaves setulose along the veins above and sparsely hispidulous below, and the stems, petioles and sepals always glabrous. Furthermore, it differs from those two species by its relatively short and wide follicles. The somatic chromosome number of the new species, 2n = 20, is reported here for the first time.

Dr. Wilhelm Sauer of Tübingen University, Germany, kindly sent the senior author as a gift in 1991 three specimens of Paeonia from Greece, collected in 1979 and 1985. They all belonged to the same taxon and resembled P. peregrina and P. officinalis in having a relatively high number of leaflets/segments, and particularly P. peregrina with setulose hairs along the veins on the upper side of the leaves. This new taxon, however, differed from P. peregrina in having the leaflets/segments mostly entire instead of dentate-lobed and from P. officinalis in having stems, petioles and sepals entirely glabrous (vs. pilose), and with leaves mostly sparsely hispidulous (vs. pilose) beneath.