Paeonia peregrina - The Balkan peony, one of about 40 species, is a member of the Paeonia genus, the only genus in the Paeoniaceae family. It prefers broad-leafed, pine, and mixed forest in altitudes no higher than 1,500 meters. The cup-shaped flowers are 10 to 14 centimeters in diameter and are formed by 7 to 10 red petals. The Balkan peony is a herbaceous perennial; herbaceous defines a plant without an extended wooden stem above ground, perennials are plants living longer than 2 years.
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The country of Yugoslavia was divided into six constitute republics with Serbia containing two autonomous entities: Kosovo and Vojvodina. Ethnic conflict, nationalism, and a desire for expanded self-rule began to splinter Yugoslavia. With the death of Yugoslav President Josip Tito in 1980 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Slovenia broke away from Yugoslavia. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but is only a partially recognized country.
