540 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS 



SENECIO 



A. montana (Mountain Tobacco). — 

 A handsorae tufted European species 

 about 1 ft. high, with smooth oblong 

 lance-shaped entire leaves. Flowers in 

 Jul3 , 2 in. across, yellow, 3-4 together On 

 hairy stalks. 



Culture and Propagation. — This is an 

 excellent rock plant, but as it does not 

 grow freely can only be increased slowly 

 by division, and by seeds when procurable. 

 It should be planted in peaty soil with a 

 little sand, in a position facing north. 



The United States species, A. foUoaa, 

 is closely related to A. montana, but is 

 somewhat taller, and has smaller pale 

 yellow flowers about 1 in. across. It 

 requires to be grown in a moist soO. 



DORONICUM (Leopard's Bane).— 

 A genus with about 12 species of smooth 

 or glandular hairy perennial herbs, with 

 alternate stalked leaves, and large yellow 

 flowers, on long stalks. Involucre 

 broadly bell-shaped, or hemispherical. 

 Beceptacle hemispherical, naked. Disc 

 florets hermaphrodite, with pappus hairs 

 in many series ; ray florets, female with- 

 out pappus, or 1-3 hairs. 



Culture and Propagation. — Doroni- 

 ■cums grow luxuriantly in a rich and 

 rather heavy loamy soil, but also do well 

 in ordinary garden soil. They are in- 

 creased in early autumn or after flowering 

 is over by dividing the roots. Also by seeds 

 sown in spring in cold frames, afterwards 

 pricking the seedlings Out when large 

 enough to handle easily, and eventually 

 transferring to their flowermg positions 

 not later than the end of September, and 

 during dull showery weather. Grown in 

 masses they make effective border plants. 



D. altaicum. — A Siberian species 

 about 1 ft. high, with obovate toothed 

 stem-clasping leaves and yellow heads of 

 flowers in July. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 

 division in early autumn. 



D. austriacum. — A somewhat hairy 

 Austrian perennial 1-1^ ft. high. Lower 

 leaves heart-shaped, stalked, toothed, 

 passing upwards into ovate spoon-shaped 

 and lance-shaped, amplexicaul bracts. 

 Flowers in spring and early summer, 

 large, yellow, 1-5 on a stem. 



Culture (ic. as above. Increased by 

 division in early autumn. 



D. caucasicum. — A showy Caucasian 

 perennial 1 ft. or more high, with ovate 



heart-shaped, toothed leaves, and yellow 

 flowers 2 in. across in spring, 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 

 division in early autumn. 



D. Clusi (Arnica Olusi). — A native 

 of Switzerland 1-2 ft. high with downy 

 stems and leaves. Lower leaves more or 

 less oblong, blunt, narrowed into a stalk ; 

 upper ones lance-shaped, sessile, stem- 

 clasping, toothed towards the base. 

 Flowers in early summer, yellow, about 2 

 in. across on long softly hairy stalks. 



Culture dc. as above. Easily increased 

 by division in early autumn. 



D. pardalianches (Great heopardJ's 

 Bane). — A European species lJ-3 ft. high, 

 reputed to be poisonous. Leaves heart- 

 shaped toothed, lower ones stalked ; upper 

 ones sessile, stem-clasping. Flowers in 

 spring and early summer, yellow, usually 

 3-5 on a stem. 



Culture Sc. as above. Easily increased 

 by division in early autumn. 



D. plantagineum. — A strong-growing 

 European species 1^—3 ft. high, with lower 

 leaves ovate, stalked, unevenly toothed ; 

 upper ones nearly entire lance-shaped, 

 sessile. Flowers in spring, yellow, usuaUv 

 solitary, on a long staUc. The variety 

 exceUum (or Harpur Crewe) is a far 

 superior garden plant to the type or any 

 other species. It grows about 5 ft. high, 

 with broadly heart-shaped, coarsely 

 toothed leaves, and yellow flowers 3-4 in. 

 across. 



Culture dc. as above. Easily increased 

 by division in early autumn. 



Other species occasionally seen are 

 D. ColumncB with downy toothed rather 

 kidney-shaped leaves, and large yellow 

 flowers; and D. scorpioides (Aronicum 

 scorpioides) with long-stalked oval leaves 

 and one to three large yellow flowers on a 

 stem. 



SENECIO (Groundsel ; Ragweed). 

 A large genus with about 900 species, 

 now including many genera which were 

 formerly considered distinct. They con- 

 sist of annual, biennial or perennial bushes, 

 shrubs, rarely trees, smooth or wooUy, 

 various in habit, and having alternate 

 radical, entire, toothed, lobed, or often 

 variously and pinnately out leaves. 

 Flower-heads various in size and colour, 

 solitary or corymbose, rarely in pyra- 

 midal panicles, or subramose or sessile 

 at the sides of the branches. Involucre 



