Magnificent peonies: types, varieties and photo gallery of beautiful flowers. Tree peonies in garden design: types and varieties Varieties of milky-flowering white peonies

Peonies today are better known as unusually beautiful, large garden flowers; they have been in decorative culture for more than 2000 years. Even the ancient Chinese flower growers knew a lot about herbaceous and tree-like peonies.

However, there are at least two wild species that not only gave rise to cultivated varieties, but were also actively used as medicinal plants. One of these species is the evasive peony. And although the plant is considered poisonous, peony tincture is used in medicine, and it will help to use the medicine as intended without the risk of poisoning.

All peonies got their name in honor of the hero of ancient Greek myths Paean. He was a student of Asclepius himself, who perfectly mastered the art of healing while being educated by the centaur Chiron.

Asclepius (Aesculapius among the Romans) mastered various methods of treatment, including surgical skills. Paean was one of his best students, he was responsible for the health of all the gods of Olympus. When Hercules went down into the dungeon to kill the terrible dog Cerberus, Hades stood in his way. In the duel between Hades and Hercules, Hades was severely wounded, however, through the efforts of Peon, he recovered from his wounds. Peon was able to cure Hades thanks to the roots of a wonderful plant, which was given to him along with instructions by Lethe, the grandmother of his teacher Asclepius. The latter had already received immortality from the gods, however, he could not come to terms with the success of Peon, who was still mortal, and plans to poison him.

Grateful Hades did not accept the deceased Peon into the kingdom of the dead, but turned him into a beautiful flower, which had not only unsurpassed beauty, but also healing properties. Thus, Peon evaded death and became a flower, receiving its name, the evading peony. . Perhaps this is just a fairy tale, but the ancient Greeks already knew about the benefits of the evasive peony.

To be fair, it must be said that this is not the only legend about this plant. There is a mention of Peony and the goddess Flora, thanks to whom pompous and arrogant people began to be called peonies. However, most likely the name of the flower comes from Thracian Paeonia, an area in ancient Greece where these flowers grew in abundance. And its beneficial properties are explained by the chemical composition of the above-ground and underground parts.

Description of the peony plant

From a botanical point of view, evasive peonies are perennial herbaceous or subshrub plants. They exist in a fairly wide natural range. The flower has several names - irregular peony or extraordinary peony. In Russian, the popular name is Maryin root or Maryin peony, heart berries. The wild-growing peony can be seen in both Asia and Europe. Growing on the territory of Russia:

in the Far East;
in Siberia;
in the Murmansk region;
in the Perm region.

The plant was listed in the Red Book of the USSR back in 1974; the plant population is still protected by law in many regions of the country and in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The root of the plant is powerful, has large spindle-shaped tubers. The stem is thick, straight, with good branching. The leaves are pinnate, rugged or trifoliate, dark green. The flowers are large, often purple or pink.

The fruits of the evasive peony are shaped like stars.

All parts of the Maryin root plant contain active chemical compounds, but most of them are concentrated in the roots:

salicylic acid;
benzoic acid
glycosides, including cardiac ones;
methyl salicylate;
flavonoids.

Peony herb and its roots with tubers are harvested as medicinal raw materials. The herbalists' instructions say that the best time to harvest grass is during the flowering period, which occurs at the end of May - June. The underground parts can be harvested throughout the growing season.

Harvested parts of the plant can be used to prepare decoctions and infusions. Homemade peony tincture is also made; instructions for use and recipe will be given below.

Peony tincture at home

To prepare a homemade tincture, you can plant a peony in the garden and, as needed, take fresh parts of the plant for tincture. If a plant is found in the forest, then it is not at all necessary to tear it out by the roots; it is enough to tear off a certain number of leaves and dig up some of the roots and tubers. Moreover, to prepare one liter of vodka tincture, only 100 grams of fresh parts of the plant are enough. Instructions for preparing and using homemade peony tincture are no different in complexity:

Sort freshly collected raw materials, wash, dry and chop.

For 1 liter of vodka or 40% alcohol you need 100 g of roots or leaves with roots.
Pour vodka over the crushed parts of the plant.
Leave for 21 days. After which the tincture is ready for use, all that remains is to strain and pour into a dark glass container with a lid.

It remains to find out how to drink and what use of homemade tincture of peony evasive is permissible and does not harm health.

The safest external use of homemade tincture of peony evasive is in the following cases:

bruises;
sprains;
muscle pain;
rheumatic pains;
disorders of the thyroid gland;
hair and scalp treatment.

In all of the above cases, the tincture is used to prepare lotions or compresses for sore spots.

For hair treatment rub the product into the roots three times a week, cover the head to retain heat and wash off after 10 minutes in the usual way.
For cosmetic purposes We can recommend the use of oil extract from peony petals. The slightly air-dried petals are placed in a jar and filled with good olive oil. You need to take enough of it so that the petals are completely covered. Leave for 7 days. This extract can be added to all factory-made skin care products. They will immediately acquire a rejuvenating and tightening effect.

In folk medicine, peony tincture is used in the treatment of: gynecological disorders;

diseases of the digestive system;
oncology;
epilepsy.

Considering that the plant is still poisonous, for internal use it is better to purchase a factory-made tincture; this is not difficult to do, and taking into account the fact that the price is very budget-friendly, this remedy is accessible to most people.

How to purchase peony tincture. Instructions for use

Industrial peony tincture

Peony tincture is produced from environmentally friendly raw materials, containing approximately equal parts of the leaves and roots of peony. The product is sold freely, no prescription from a doctor is required.

The cardboard boxes contain peony tincture and instructions for use. In official medicine, experts recognize the tincture as a herbal sedative that helps:

with pathologies of the vegetative-vascular system;
with nervous excitability;
for problems falling asleep and sleep disorders.

Treatment with tincture it should be carried out in a continuous course, taking it in the amount of 30 - 40 drops, daily, three times a day for one month.

If recovery does not occur, then treatment with peony tincture can be repeated again after 10 days.

Important! Before starting treatment, you need to consult a doctor.

In addition to disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system, on which the tincture acts as a sedative, it can be recommended for the treatment of female problems, including those that arise during menopause.

The product has contraindications, you need to read the instructions before taking the medicine.

The main contraindications are:

kidney pathology;
liver failure;
allergy to the components of the tincture;
individual intolerance.

Important! After taking the tincture, you should not drive a car or do work that requires concentration.

Considering that the tincture is prepared with alcohol, it is better for expectant mothers to take a decoction of dried peony. Its herb or roots can also be purchased at the pharmacy. Considering that the plant relieves muscle tone, including from the uterus, and has a calming effect on the nerves, drinking the decoction helps maintain pregnancy as part of complex therapy.

Important! Preparation of the decoction and use should be carried out strictly according to the instructions.

It should be said that the use of peony evasive tincture and a decoction of it is also indicated for completely healthy people during periods of nervous tension. If you have difficult and stressful days, then it is enough to take 40 drops to not only fall asleep quickly, but also have a good night's sleep, so you should have a bottle of tincture in your home medicine cabinet, it will help out in difficult times.

Family: peony (Paeoniaceae).

Motherland

Peony is widespread throughout Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia and North America.

Form: herbaceous shrub.

Description

Peony is the name of a genus of perennial herbaceous shrubs. There are about 45 species in nature.

Abkhazian peony (P. abchasica) is a perennial herbaceous plant up to 80 centimeters tall, with pinnately trifoliate leaves of light green color and single white flowers. The flowering period begins in May.

(P. wittmanniana) is a perennial herbaceous peony with a stem height of up to 80 centimeters. The leaf blades are double- or triple-pinnate, shiny, pointed. The petals of the Wittmann peony are usually yellow or yellowish-white in color, the flowers are up to 10 centimeters in diameter. Flowering duration is 10-12 days.

Mountain peony (P. oreogeton) is a perennial plant 60-70 centimeters high. Mountain peony flowers are yellow and large (up to 9 cm in diameter). The filaments at the base are dark purple. The flowering time of peonies of this species begins in May.

Peony Delyaveya (P. delavayi) is a perennial deciduous subshrub up to 100 centimeters high. The flowers are solitary or arranged in groups of 2-3 at the ends of annual shoots. Color varies from orange to dark red-brown. The fruit is a naked leaflet.

(P. suffruticosa) is a deciduous subshrub with erect stems up to 2.5 meters high. Dense, double-pinnate leaves are arranged alternately. The upper side of the leaf blade is dark green, the lower side is grayish-green. Single flowers of white, pink, crimson or purple color are located at the ends of annual shoots. The number of petals ranges from 6 to 12. The tree peony blooms at the end of April, flowering continues for 30-35 days.

Peony yellow (P. lutea) is a monoecious deciduous subshrub up to 90 centimeters high. Peony flowers of lemon yellow or golden color are located at the ends of the shoots of the first year. Yellow peony blooms in June. The fruit is a naked leaflet.

Caucasian peony (P. caucasica) is a perennial herbaceous plant up to 80 centimeters high, with single pink-violet flowers with round-oval petals. The leaves of the Caucasian peony are double-triple. Flowering duration is 8-9 days.

Chinese peony - a hybrid variety of milky peony. Plant height up to 100 centimeters. The flower is large, up to 20 cm in diameter. Unlike other species, it has not one flower on a stem, but three or more.

Peony Maryin-root , evasive peony, or officinalis peony (P. anomala) is a perennial herbaceous plant with many large and powerful stems up to 100 centimeters high. The species is characterized by feathery leaves and flowers up to 13 centimeters in diameter, pink-red shades of varying intensities. The flowering period begins in May-June and lasts 14 days.

Pion Mlokosevich (R. miokosewitschii) - distinguished by a dense bush 70-80 centimeters high. The leaves are dark green. The flowers are light yellow.

Peony milky-flowered (P. lactiflora) is a perennial herbaceous plant with large double-triple leaves arranged alternately. The flowers are solitary, white or pale pink, up to 10 centimeters in diameter. The flowering period of peonies of this species is from June to July.

Peony mutabilis (P. mutabilis) is a perennial herbaceous plant with dark green leaves and hemispherical flowers. The petals are most often of different shades. The flowering period occurs in June.

Japanese peony - subspecies of milky-flowered peony. It is distinguished by the shape of a flower with one or two rows of outer petals; in the center there are stamens, transformed into narrow reed petals. The color of the flowers is white, pink, red. Very elegant peonies. Japanese peony varieties are very popular nowadays.

(P. tenuifolia) is a perennial herbaceous plant 40-50 centimeters high, with triple-pinnate leaves of dark green color. The flowers are solitary, consisting of 8-10 cherry-red petals. The flowering period of peonies of this species begins in early May and lasts on average 10 days.

Growing conditions

Varietal peonies prefer a sunny location. Some species (for example, Maryin-root, Caucasian) feel good in partial shade. Soils are preferably cultivated, loamy, with a slightly acidic reaction. Areas with high groundwater levels are not suitable for peony. In general, peony is a fairly unpretentious flower; even a novice gardener can grow peony.

Application

Peony flowers are used in group plantings, like... The bright, sweet smell of peony creates a special atmosphere in the garden. You can select types of peonies with different flowering periods.

The rhizome of peony is used in folk medicine for diseases of the nervous system and arthritis.

Large-flowered, fragrant peonies are used for cutting.

Care

Peony requires abundant watering, but it does not tolerate stagnation of water at the roots. The soil around the peony is desirable. Peonies are fertilized in the spring, at the beginning of the growing season, with full mineral fertilizer. It is also advisable to feed peonies during budding and flowering with mineral or organic fertilizers. You can learn more about how to grow peonies and how to care for peonies from the special one.

Reproduction

Only wild peony is usually propagated by seeds. Peony seeds are sown in the ground immediately after collection. In garden floriculture, as a rule, the vegetative method of propagating peonies is used. Dividing the bush is most effective. Adult bushes are divided in August-September. To do this, dig up a bush and cut off the stems. On each of the separated parts there should be several buds and part of the rhizome. It is advisable to treat the cuttings with root formation stimulants. Peony seedlings are planted in holes and watered abundantly.

It is not advisable to replant adult peony plants without dividing the bush. If there is a need to replant the peony, it is better to divide the bush into several parts.

In general, it is advisable to carry out planting, replanting and dividing peonies exclusively in autumn or late summer. For peonies, planting in spring can lead to weakening of the plant and an increase in the adaptation period. Peonies planted in spring do not bloom for a long time.

Diseases and pests

Common diseases of peonies are rust, snow mold, gray rot of peonies. Ants on peonies can spread fungal diseases and prevent flowering, so it is better to get rid of them using insecticides (‘Muracid’, for example). In addition, pests of peonies are mites, aphids, and thrips.

Popular varieties

Varieties of milky peony

'Sarah Bernhardt'- plant height 95-110 centimeters. Peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ is perhaps one of the most popular varieties of this plant. The flowers are large, densely double, pale pink.

‘Victor Lemoine’- bright crimson peony. The height of the peony ‘Victor Lemoine’ is 80-85 centimeters.

'Alexander Fleming'- pink peonies up to 75 centimeters high. The diameter of the flower is 12 centimeters. The flowering period of the peony ‘Alexander Fleming’ is average.

'Shirley Temple'- white peony, densely double.

'Gardenia'- double pink peony with creamy white flowers. The flowering period of the peony ‘Gardenia’ is average.

'Karl Rosenfeld'- plant up to 80 centimeters high. Peony ‘Karl Rosenfeld’ flowers are crimson-red, with yellow stamens.

‘Pearl scattering’- pearlescent pink peony with a yellow-pink center. The height of the peony ‘Pearl placer’ is up to 80 centimeters.

Hybrid peony varieties

Peony flowers in their pristine beauty are not much inferior to roses, and some forms even surpass them in many characteristics. The only thing in which peonies can lose to the “queens of gardens” is the duration of flowering. But if you plant different types of peonies with different flowering periods, then your area will be painted in bright colors all summer long.

According to the currently generally accepted botanical taxonomy, peonies belong to the Peony family (Paeoniaceae), which includes only one peony genus (Paeonia). According to various sources, the genus includes from 40 to 47 species of peonies, and all plants grow in the Northern Hemisphere: Europe, Asia, North Africa, North America.

Most naturally occurring peonies have a simple flower shape. They are very decorative and can be grown in gardens along with varietal peonies.

All species of herbaceous peonies grow in areas of the Northern Hemisphere with clear seasonal changes in temperature from relatively high in summer to fairly low in winter. The annual cyclical development of these peonies corresponds to the seasons and includes the death of the above-ground herbaceous part in the fall and the obligatory rather long winter dormancy.

The duration and temperature level for winter dormancy depend on the type of peony. For full flowering of P. lactiflora and its varieties, the duration of this time should be at least 40 days. According to Alan Rogers, the temperature level for the winter dormancy period of some species should not be higher than 2 ° C, and its duration should be from 40 to 60 days. According to other observations, the Maryin root has the longest dormancy (more than 100 days), so in the spring it germinates later than the others.

For peonies to bloom, the air and soil temperatures must be maintained at a certain level for a specific period. Temperature levels are lower for early bloomers and higher for late bloomers.

For varieties of peony lactiflora to bloom, according to my observations, the temperature should not be lower than 16-17 °C. All types of herbaceous peonies can be cultivated in most of Russia, with the exception of the Far North.

Popular types of peony flowers

Check out the photos, names and descriptions of the types of peonies that are the most popular in garden plots:

Peony "Caucasian" (P. caucasica Schipcz)

It grows in forests and on the edges of the middle mountain zone in the western part of the Caucasus at an altitude of 900-2000 m. The stems are branched, 50-100 cm high, pinkish. The leaves are double-triple, the lobes are wide and oval. The color is green above without shine, grayish-green below. The plant resembles P. Mlokosevich. The flowers are pink-violet, light purple or deep pink, 10-12 cm in diameter. Blooms in the Moscow region in mid-late May. Often considered as a variety of p. Crimean or p. thrice-triple.

Peony "Japanese" (P. japonica Makino)

It grows in Primorye, Sakhalin, and the Kuril Islands. Found in valleys and along river beds. The flowers are white or pink. The leaves are rough, without shine, with a light green edge. The appearance is similar in appearance to P. obovata.

Peony milky-flowered (P. lactiflora Pall)

It is found in the Far East, Transbaikalia, Mongolia, Japan, and Korea. It grows in valleys, on the edges, and on the slopes of hills. The height of the stems is 60-100 cm, there are several flowers on one stem. The leaves are double-triple, pointed, green, shiny. In appearance, the plant resembles ordinary garden peonies. This type of peony has simple, creamy white or pinkish flowers, rarely red. In the Moscow region it begins to bloom from May 25 to June 5. Highly decorative. The progenitor of the vast majority of garden peonies.

Large-leaved peony (P. macrophylla Lomak)

Endemic, grows in Georgia - Adjara, Guria. Found on the edges of mountain forests. The height of the stems is 100 cm. The leaves are large, up to 22 cm long and up to 15 cm wide, bright green above, bluish below with pubescence. One of the earliest flowering species in the Moscow region after May 10. The flowers are large, white, with a slight yellowish tint. In the Moscow region it is difficult to cultivate; in the spring it needs protection from Botrytis cinerya (gray rot).

Pion Mlokosevich (P. mlokosewitschii Lomak)

Endemic, grows in Kakheti and Lagodekhi, in the western part of Dagestan. Found in forests and on steep slopes. The height of the stems is up to 100 cm, their color is pinkish. The leaves are very decorative: with wide rounded lobes, bluish-green with a bluish tint and pink petioles. Flowers up to 12 cm in diameter, yellow when blooming, later creamy. One of the earliest blooming - in the Moscow region it blooms after May 15, once in my garden - on May 9 (in 1972). Decorative after flowering (in the second half of summer, unfertilized carpels open with coral-red beads of ovules inside.) An exceptionally decorative appearance, highly valued by amateurs.

Peony obovate (P. obovata Maxim)

Grows in mixed and deciduous forests in the south of the Primorsky Territory, in China and Japan. Stems 60-90 cm high, single-flowered. Flowers up to 10 cm in diameter, bright pink or white.

Crimean peony (P. taurica (P. daurica Anders)

Grows in Crimea and the Caucasus. The height of the stems is 36-62 cm. The leaves are dark green, with wide oval lobes. Flowers up to 10 cm in diameter, red-pink or purple-pink.

These photos show the types of peonies that are most popular in Russian garden plots:

What other types of herbaceous plants are peonies?

Three-triple peony (P. tritemata Pall ex de Candol)

It grows in the Crimea and the North Caucasus, in mountain deciduous forests on open slopes. Stems are 50-100 cm high, thin, often twisting. The flowers are purple.

Peony "Wittmann" (P. unttmanniana Hartwiss ex Lindl)

The species is distributed in European Russia, in Siberia, and is found in Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China. In the north - in the Komi Republic.

Endemic, grows in Abkhazia, in forests and on the edges of mountainous areas. Stems 80-100 cm high. Leaves are dark green. The flowers are wide open, pale yellow, later cream. One of the early flowering species.

Peony evasive (P. anomala L.), commonly known as Maryin root.

Grows in forests, forest edges and meadows. The bush is elegant. Stems are single-flowered, 80-100 cm high, red-colored. The leaves are double-triple, with narrow longitudinal segments, shiny, dark green-olive. The flowers are up to 9 cm in diameter, purple, looking to the side. Early flowering species, in the Moscow region from May 16. Has a number of varieties. The roots are purple in color, with a characteristic “pharmacy” smell. Shoots emerge from the ground late in the spring and then develop quickly. One of the most popular species of peonies. Widely used in pharmacology.

Hybrid peony (P. hybrida f. intermedia Meyer, ex Ledebour)

It grows in Finland (Lapland), in the north of the European part of Russia, in the mountainous regions of Altai and Turkmenistan, among shrubs, in meadows and open rocky slopes. The stems are single-flowered, up to 80 cm high, and can branch at the top. The leaves are three-triple, the segments are cut into narrow linear short lobes. The flowers are shiny, pink, purple, bright red, looking to the sides.

Peony officinalis (P. officinalis L.)

It grows in France, Switzerland, northern Italy, and Crete. The height of the stems is 40-90 cm. The leaf lobes are deeply cut into narrow oblong or elliptical parts. The flowers are solitary, large (up to 13 cm in diameter), dark red. In the gardens of amateur gardeners, double varieties are widespread, resulting from a mutation of the main form of the species. They are widely cultivated in gardens.

Foreign peony (P. peregrina Mill). It grows in Italy, the Balkans, Asia Minor, and Moldova. Found in semi-shaded places among bushes. The height of the stems is 35-70 cm. The leaves are double-triple, some leaflets are divided to the base, shiny, green. Flowers up to 15 cm in diameter are deep dark red. The plant resembles P. officinalis.

Peony (Paeonia)

Family: Peony

Brief information about the cut plant

Decorative form: beautifully flowering

Height: high (from 50 to 70 cm), medium (from 30 to 50 cm)

Significance in composition: large (can act as an accent)

Shear stability: low (1-4 days)

Peonies are beautiful both on their own and in combination with other flowers. These flowers create the effect of splendor, so they can be used in ceremonial decorations.

Peony: botanical description

The basis of the modern assortment consists of numerous varieties and types of herbaceous forms of peonies. These are perennial rhizomatous plants with numerous erect shoots ranging in height from 25 to 100 cm or slightly higher, dying off in the winter. The leaves are alternate, large, trifoliate.

The flowers are apical, usually solitary, with a diameter of 6 to 20 cm or more, with numerous stamens and three to five pistils, simple or double, from milky white to purple in color.

Peony: floral description

Peony is a plant with an active growth form with a round end. According to the need for free space, it belongs to a group of plants of great importance. This regal flower is attractive in any arrangement. When forming a composition or bouquet, special attention should be paid to the state of the peony: is it a bud or an open flower, since the bud blooms very widely and brightly, taking up space in the composition.

Biological description

Application

Since the times of the ancient world, peony has been known not only as an ornamental plant, but also as a medicinal plant. It owes its name to the legendary physician Peon, who healed gods and people from wounds received in battles. Ancient Roman philosopher of the 1st century BC. e. Pliny the Elder listed twenty diseases cured with the help of the rhizome of the officinalis peony (P. officinalis).

Peonies are propagated by dividing the bushes, but if you need to get many plants of the variety you like, you can propagate by layering, stem and root cuttings. The most reliable way is propagation by buds with pieces of rhizome. Each part of the rhizome should have at least 2-3 buds.

Information about peony in Russia at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries (according to the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary)

Peony (Paeonia L.) is the generic name of plants belonging to the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae).

Most representatives of this genus are perennial herbs that overwinter through their tuberous, swollen roots; only a few representatives are subshrubs.

The genus is divided into two subgenera:

Paeon DC. (perennial herbs, disc is poorly developed) and
Moutan DC. (subshrubs, the disc covers almost the entire pistil).

The last subgenus includes the so-called. tree peonies (P. arborea, fruticosa, Moutan); these are subshrubs, with branched bare stems reaching up to 60-150 cm in height.

The homeland of tree peonies is the valleys of Japan and China.
Two forms are known:

Moutan Sims. - very large (up to 25 cm wide), simple, semi-double or double flowers of various colors; the best garden varieties of this form: Bijou de Chusan (light pink), fragrans maxima plena (large, fragrant, coral-red flowers), lactea (double, milky white flowers), etc.;
papaveracea Andr., corolla consists of 8-12 petals. Tree peonies are very sensitive to spring frosts, and therefore require good winter cover. They are propagated by cuttings and grafting onto tubers of other peonies.

The first subgenus (Paeon) includes the majority of both bred and wild peonies. In European Russia (in the steppes, Crimea, and Caucasus), P. tenuifolia L., also known as “voronka”, “funnel”, grows wildly; the stems are simple, with one blood-red flower and trifoliate leaves; tubers are oblong. The following varieties are grown in gardens: f. flore pleno and flore roseo pleno (double with red and pink flowers). In Crimea, on the mountains, between bushes and in forests, another species, P. triternata Pall., is found, with red or whitish flowers. P. Wittmanniana Stev grows in the Caucasus. with bright yellow flowers, and in Southern Siberia and Turkestan P. anomala L. In Southern Siberia, as well as in China, P. albiflora Pall., a Chinese peony with pink flowers, has many garden varieties (the flowers smell like roses). The most common garden ones belong to P. peregrina Mill.; this is an ordinary peony, a perennial herbaceous plant up to 30-80 cm in height, blooming in May-June; the tubers are oblong, mostly with a long stem; stems are simple, monochromatic; The double-triple leaves are softly hairy on the underside and sometimes covered with flakes. Simple flowers have 8 or fewer purple, less often white or yellowish petals. The stamens are mostly yellow. Bags 2-3; they are almost straight or bent, the seeds are large; oval, bluish-black, shiny. This species grows wildly in Southern Europe and Western Asia. Several varieties are known: