Abstract
A new horticultural classification of herbaceous peony is offered, using a multivalent analysis based on morphological and ecological data and paired affinity (PA) values of flavone and flavonol compounds in the petals. Cultivars of Paeonia officinalis are classified in one group by both methods, whereas those of Paeonia lactiflora are classified to another by the multivalent analysis. The Japanese and Western cultivars of Paeonia lactiflora are further divided into separate subgroups. Paeonia obovata and Paeonia japonica, which are closely related taxonomically, are also shown to be very close when classified morphologically and by multivalent analysis.
Thus, the multivalent analysis based on the morphological and ecological data and PA value of flavone and flavonol in the petals is now shown to be a useful tool for assorting and/or tracing the parentages of herbaceous peony cultivars of unknown origin. Such tasks are impossible using the previous classification based solely on flower shapes.
