300 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
and alternate. The flower-heads are solitary or in corymbs, entirely 
yellow; bracts of involucre in a few series, long and slender. Ray- 
florets strap-shaped, usually female; disk-florets tubular, with dilated 
five-toothed mouth, bisexual. Fruit oblong, furrowed ; pappus-hairs of 
the disk-fruits in many series, those of the ray-fruits few or none. The 
Species are natives of Europe, Northern Asia, and the mountain regions 
of India; two are naturalised in British plantations. 
The Leopard’s-banes are of ancient cultivation in this 
country, but the date at which one of the two naturalised 
species—Doronicum Pardalianches—was introduced is not known ; until 
comparatively recently they were regarded as indigenous. This species 
got its specific name, and the genus its popular name, from the ancient 
belief that though good for certain human ailments it was rapidly fatal 
to leopards and other wild beasts if the root or leaves were mixed with 
meat and strewed around in their haunts. Pardalianches signifies 
leopard-strangler. _D. plantaginewm, the other naturalised species, was 
introduced from Southern Europe about 1570. _D. altaicwm, a native of 
Siberia, was introduced in 1738, and D. caucasicum, from the Caucasus, 
in 1815, followed a year later by D. austriacum from Austria. 
Dial teeta Doronicum ALTAICUM (native of the Altai). Stem 1 
foot high. Radical leaves oval - spoon- shaped; stem- 
leaves oval, toothed, stem-clasping. Flower-heads yellow ; July. 
D. AUSTRIACUM (Austrian). Stem 12 to 18 inches Radical leaves 
heart-shaped, toothed, stalked; lower stem-leaves oval-spoon-shaped, 
abruptly narrowed at base ; upper ones lance-shaped, somewhat heart- 
shaped at base, clasping the stem. Flower-heads large, yellow, one to 
five on each stem ; April to June. 
D. cavcasicum (Caucasian). Stem 1 to 2 feet high. Radical leaves 
broad-heart-shaped, edges deeply toothed ; Stem-leaves oval, toothed, with 
broad clasping base. Flower-heads, 2 inches or more across, yellow; 
May to August. Plate 159. 
D, PARDALIANCHES (Leopard - strangler). Great Leopard’s - bane. 
Stem 2 to 3 feet, Radical leaves heart-shaped, with long stalks ; stem- 
leaves oval, the lower with expanded stem-clasping footstalks, the upper 
stalkless. Flower-heads three to five, yellow, 2 inches or less across; 
May to July. Whole plant downy and hairy. 
D. PLANTAGINEUM (Plantain -leaved). Similar to the last, but 
smoother and more slender ; leaves not heart-shaped, but more nearly 
lance-shaped, three-to five-ribbed ; upper ones oblong ; radical leaves oval. 
Flower-heads yellow, usually solitary ; June and J uly. The form mostly 
srown in gardens is the var. Excelsum, a taller (5 feet), more elegant, 
