California Peony, Paeonia californica

1.5 in. flower; 5 green sepals, 5 maroon petals. Dos Picos County Park, Ramona, San Diego Co., CA. 3-23-08. © Joan Avise	California Peony Paeonia californica A common perennial on loamy or clay soils in understory or open sparsely-vegetated areas, in chaparral openings, rocky grasslands and oak woodlands; often more prominent after fires. One of two species of Peony native to North America, and is considered by some to be a subspecies of the other native, P. brownii which is native to Wyoming and Utah. California Peony is endemic to California's central and south coasts, transverse and peninsular ranges. It is dormant in summer, and sprouts from the root system with the first fall rain. Flowers develop in mid-late winter. After spring growth, the plant dies back to the ground. Back to Paeoniaceae of Orange County, California Back to Eudicots of Orange County, California Back to Natural History of Orange County, California
Bluewater Trail, fr Oak Flats to San Mateo Cyn., 2-8-15. © Ron Vanderhoff.	Bluewater Trail, fr Oak Flats to San Mateo Cyn., 2-8-15. © Ron Vanderhoff.
Many stamens maturing outward from the center. Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Preserve, Riverside Co., CA. 3-01-09. © Joan Avise	Palmately compound divided leaves. Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Preserve, Riverside Co., CA. 3-01-09. © Joan Avise
Usually three leathery seedpods that open on one side to release seed. Dos Picos County Park, Ramona, San Diego Co., CA. 3-23-08. © Joan Avise	Succulent perennial herb to 18 in. tall. Dos Picos County Park, Ramona, San Diego Co., CA. 3-23-08. © Joan Avise
Flower bends over at the end of a smooth stem. San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 3-29-08. © Joan Avise	SE Los Alisos and Vista del Lago, MV, 12-25-13. © Ron Vanderhoff.