Doronicum
(from Doronigi, the Arabic name). Leopard's Bane. Including Aronicum. ORD. Compositae. A genus of about a dozen species of mostly dwarf, early-flowering, hardy herbaceous perennials, natives of Europe and temperate Asia. Flower-heads yellow; involucral bracts in two or three series, nearly equal; disk-florets perfect, pappus hairs in many series; ray usually female only, destitute of pappus, or with from one to three hairs. Leaves alternate; radical ones petioled; cau1ine ones distant, often amplexicaul. They are of very easy culture in ordinary garden soil. Propagated by divisions. D. altaicum (Altaic).* fl. heads yellow. July. l. toothed, obovate, amplexicaul; radical ones obovate-spathulate, narrowed into the stalk. h. 1ft. Siberia, 1783.
D. austriacum (Austrian).* fl.-heads yellow. large; stems one to five-flowered. Spring. l. dentate; radical ones cordate, stalked; lower stem ones ovate-spathulate, abruptly narrowed at the base; upper ones lanceolate, cordate-amplexicaul. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. Europe, 1816. Plant somewhat hairy. D. caucasicum (Caucasian).* fl.-heads yellow, nearly 2in. across, solitary, terminal, axillary. Spring. l., cau1ine ones ovate, pointed, with a broad clasping base, margins toothed; radical ones reniform, margins deeply toothed. h. 1ft. Europe, Asia.
D. Columnae (Columna's). fl.-heads yellow, large. Spring. l. toothed, pubescent; radical ones stalked, almost kidney-shaped; lower cau1ine ones auricled; middle ones cordate-spathulate; upper ones ovate-lanceolate, amplexicaul. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. Europe, 1824.
D. Pardalianches.* Great Leopard's Bane. fl.-heads yellow, generally three to five on each stem. Spring. l. cordate, toothed; radical ones on long stalks, cordate; stem ones few, ovate; upper ones sessile, amplexicaul. h. 1 1/2ft. to 3ft. Europe. This species is reputed to be poisonous. (Sy. En. B. 762.) D. plantagineum (Plantain). fl.-heads yellow, usually solitary, and terminal. Spring. l. toothed; lower ones stalked, ovate, or slightly cordate; the rest sessile, except the lowest, which has a winged stalk, and half embraces the stem. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Western Europe (Britain). (Sy. En. B. 762.) D. p. excelsum (tall).* fl.-heads yellow, as in the type, but larger, 3in. to 4in. in diameter; ray achenes glabrous, without pappus. March to October. l., radical ones on long petioles, rather roughly hairy; stem ones amplexicaul, broadly cordate-ovate, acute, coarsely toothed. Stem stout, sparsely hispid, furrowed, simple, or with one or two branches. h. 5ft. or more. A very elegant plant, more robust than the type. (G. C. n. s., xx. 297.)