Home › D › Dodecatheon (From dodeka twelve and theos)

Dodecatheon (From dodeka twelve and theos)

(from dodeka, twelve, and theos, gods; of fanciful application). American Cowslip. SYN. Meadia. ORD. Primulaceae. A genus containing two or three species of very ornamental hardy herbaceous perennials, with oblong-spathulate leaves and naked umbellate scapes of flowers. Petals long, narrow, reflexed. They succeed in a moist position, and in a compost of leaf mould and loam. All the species are admirably adapted for sheltered parts of the rock garden, or for borders. They are of easy propagation by division of the crowns, either in spring or autumn, the latter preferred. In addition to their value outside, they may be employed for the decoration of cool greenhouses. For this purpose, the plants may be taken up in November, placed in 6in. pots, and kept in a cold frame until early in March. After flowering, they should be plunged in a bed of coal ashes for the summer, under a north wall. Dodecatheons will not bear forcing; neither should they be in a position exposed to hot sunshine in summer.

D. integrifolium (entire-leaved).* fl. deep rosy-crimson, not so large as those of D. Meadia; umbels small, few-flowered; petals white at the base. Early summer. l. ovate, entire. h. 4in. to 6in. North America, 1829. (B. M. 3622.) D. Jeffreyi (Jeffrey's). A garden synonym of D. Meadia lancifolium. D. Meadia (Meadia).* fl. rosy-purple, white, or lilac, with yellow anthers; scape twice the height of the leaves, crowned by an elegantly drooping umbel. April. l. in large tufts, nearly erect, oblong-ovate, unevenly toothed, from 3in. to 7in. long, and about 3in. across at the broadest part. h. 10in. to 16in. North America, 1744. In the Western States, called Shooting Star. There are several very excellent forms of this species including the following: D. M. elegans (elegant). fl. deeper in colour, shorter and broader in leaf, and roundly toothed; flower-stems shorter; umbels more numerous, than in the type.

D. M. frigidum (cold).* fl. deep reddish-purple, not drooping; scape never more than six-flowered, mostly fewer. l. ovate, irregularly notched along the margins, about 3in. long, and spreading. Western North America, 1869. A very pretty dwarf form, with several nursery synonyms. It is somewhat difficult to grow, and should have stones placed around its roots to preserve an equable temperature. (B. M. 5871.) D. M. giganteum (gigantic). A larger form in all its parts than the normal type, with pale green leaves; it also comes into flower about ten days earlier than D. Meadia.

D. M. lancifolium (lance-leaved).* fl. pink or rose, yellow towards the base; sepals and petals four each; scapes 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. in height, supporting large umbels. Late spring. l. large, 6in. to 10in. long, or more, narrowly-spathulate, tapering towards the base. h. 1 1/4ft. to 2ft. Rocky Mountains, 1867. A very distinct plant, easily recognisable by its very large leaves. SYN. D. Jeffreyi (of gardens). F. d. S. 1662.) Other forms are: albiflorum (white-flowered) (L. B. C. 1489) and lilacinum (lilac-flowered).