Anomalous peony. Kurgan Region

Anomalous peony, known also as Marya's root in Russian (Paeonia anomala L.) is a rare red-listed plant of the Kurgan region. The name of the flower comes from the Greek word paionios - healing, medicinal, in honor of the ancient Greek physician Peon, who was famous for his knowledge of healing herbs.

Peonies are perennial herbaceous summer-green plants. They bloom in May-June and usually grow to a height of 60-100 cm. Peony flowers are large, fragrant, purplish-pink, 8-13 cm in diameter.

Anomalous peony was bred back in the XVIII century as an ornamental plant to decorate gardens and complement floral compositions. Today the plant can be found wild in the region. Peonies grow under the canopy of the relict forest on the territory of the nature monument “Cherry Island Dacha”, whose unique flora regularly attracts biologists and local historians, as well as many tourists - nature lovers. Peonies can also be admired on the peninsulas of the salt water body of the resort “Lake Medvezhye” in the Kurgan region.

Anomalous peony is one of the most beautiful and medicinally valuable species of forest herbs. The greatest benefit is concentrated in the root of the plant, which contains essential oils, a large amount of starch, tannins, trace elements - strontium and chromium. Tincture of the roots is used as a sedative for insomnia and neurosis. The plant is also used in cosmetology and cooking.

Once peonies were massively cut for bouquets and medicinal preparations, which negatively affected the population of the plant. But for many years now the anomalous peony has been included in the Red Book of the Kurgan region and is strictly protected by law. Residents of the region are actively growing peonies in their homestead plots and adjacent territories - the bright flowers have become a distinctive feature of urban and rural landscapes in the Kurgan region.