Abstract: The plant from eastern Aegean islands, S. Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria and N. Iraq is recognized as a subspecies of Paeonia mascula based on a large quantity of herbarium specimens from the major herbaria in Europe. The subspecies, Paeonia mascula subsp. orientalis (Thiebaut) D. Y. Hong, is characterized by nearly always having some leaflets segmented and the total number of leaflets and segments ranging from (9) 12 to 18 (23); leaflets and segments broadly elliptical to ovate-rounded and usually glabrous or sparsely villous on the lower surface.

Key words: Paeoniaceae, Paeonia mascula subsp. Orientalis, W. Asia, SE. Europe