芍药属(Paeonia L.)的木本植物属于牡丹组(Paeonia sect. Moutan DC.), 共有9个野生物种和1个包含上千品种的栽培种。所有野生牡丹都为中国特有, 是非同寻常的资源植物。1992年出版的《中国植物红皮书》收录了388个保护类群, 野生牡丹就占了4个。本文回顾了野生牡丹保护的历史、调查和研究的经过、研究结果以及存在的问题, 着重介绍了野生牡丹的生物学背景、分布和生境, 并就其濒危等级和保护措施提出了建议。根据我们的调查和零星的资料, 凤丹(P. ostii)和中原牡丹(P. cathayana)都只剩单株, 亟待挽救; 紫斑牡丹(P. rockii)、卵叶牡丹(P. qiui)、四川牡丹(P. decomposita)和圆裂牡丹(P. rotundiloba)处于濒危状态; 大花黄牡丹(P. ludlowii)和矮牡丹(P. jishanensis)应属于易危等级, 只有滇牡丹(P. delavayi)尚不在濒危之列。总结以往保护的进程, 我们强调, 如果没有科学的物种划分, 保护单元不明确, 生态和生物学信息不够充实, 就难以制定科学的保护策略和可行的保护措施。因此, 呼吁有关部门高度重视这一问题, 开展深入的野生牡丹现状的调查, 制定切实可行的保护策略, 并实行有力的保护措施。

The section Moutan DC. of Paeonia L. contains nine wild species of tree peonies and one cultivated species comprising hundreds of cultivars. All wild species are endemic to China, and are highly valuable resources. The China Plant Red Data Book published in 1992 includes 388 conservation units, of which four are tree peonies. The present article briefly reviews the history of field surveys, investigations, and conservation of wild tree peonies, as well as preliminary results, and finally proposes questions and suggestions for future work. The article focuses the biological background of wild tree peonies, their distribution and habitats, and proposes suggestions for endangered ranks and conservation strategies. Based on our survey and incomplete data, we consider that P. ostii and P. cathayana each has only one individual, and thus effective conservation measures should be taken for them immediately; P. rockii, P. qiui, P. decomposita and P. rotundiloba are endangered; P. ludlowii and P. jishanensis are vulnerable, and of the nine wild species of tree peonies, unfortunately, only P. delavayi is classified as a healthy species. We emphasize that if species delimitation is not rational, conservation units are not clearly defined, and ecological and biological information is inadequate, it will be impossible to work out a scientific conservation strategy and practical conservation measures. Lastly, the article appeals to relevant agencies to pay attention to conservation of wild tree peonies, to provide funds for conducting intensive surveys examining the present situation of wild tree peonies, and subsequently to formulate a rational strategy and feasible measures for conserving precious wild tree peonies.