210 
THE LADIES' FLOWER-GARDEN 
GENUS XXVI. 
DORONICUM, Lin. THE LEOPARD'S-BANE. 
Lin. Syst. SYNGENESIA SUPERFLUA. 
Geneiuc Character. — Receptacle nkkdd, pappus simple ; scales of the involucre in two rows, equal, longer than the disk ; seeds of the ray florets 
destitute of pappus. 
Description, &c. — These are very showy flowers, some of which are natives of England, and all of which 
have been found in Europe, and the North of Asia. Some derive the name of Doronicum from an Arabic 
word signifying poison ; but others trace its origin from two Greek words, signifying a gift and a victory : 
because wild beasts, particularly leopards, are said to be very fond of its leaves and fleshy root, the juice of which 
has a stupifying efiiect upon them, and thus makes them fall an easy prey to their enemies. Hence also the 
English name of Leopard's-bane. 
1.— DORONICUM PLANTAGINEUM, Borr. THE GREATER LEOPARD'S-BANE. 
Engravings. — Eng. Bot. t. 630; 2d ed. t. 1169. I ovate, or slightly cordate ; stem-leaves sessile, except the lowest, which 
Specific Character. — Leaves toothed, radical ones ou naked stalks, 1 has a winged stalk. 
Description, &c.— One of the most showy of British wild flowers, and frequently cultivated in gardens, 
where its large yellow blossoms produce a brilliant appearance in May and June. It is often confounded with 
the Common Leopard's-bane ; but modem botanists make it a distinct species, and it is certain that its flowers 
are not only much larger, but are produced much earlier. It is propagated by seeds and dividing the root. 
2.— DORONICUM PARDALIANCHES, Smith. THE COMMON LEOPARD'S-BANE. 
Engravings. — Eng. Bot. supp. 2654 ; 2nd edit. 1169*. | into stem-clasping auricles at the base. The uppermost leaves are 
Specific Character. — Leaves cordate, toothed ; the lower ones on sessile and stem-clasping, 
long naked petioles ; the inteimediate leaves on winged petioles, dilated 1 
Description, &c. — The flowers of this plant are much smaller than those of the preceding species, and they 
do not appear till the latter end of June. The leaves are soft and hairy on both sides, and the whole plant ig 
somewhat clammy to the touch. The roots arc fleshy, and form at intervals small tubers about the size of a 
bean, from each of which a flowering stem proceeds, and grows to the height of two or three feet. From this 
peculiarity it is very difiicult to eradicate the plant when once it has been introduced into a garden ; and, at the 
same time, it is impossible for any plant to be more easy to propagate, as all that is required is to separate one of 
the flowering stems with its attached tuber from the rest, and to transplant it into another place. It also ripens 
seeds freely. It is said to grow best in damp shady places, but it generally succeeds in any soil or situation. 
3.— DORONICUM CAUCASICUM, Bieb. THE CAUCASIAN LEOPARD'S-BANE. 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag. t. 1343 ; and ova fig. 4, in Plate 54. 
Specific Character. — Leaves cordate, dentate ; radical leaves on long petioles ; stem-leaves sessile, and stem -clasping. 
Descbiption, &c.-^The flowers of this plant are rather small, but very -pretty ; the rotrt is an oblong 
creeping tuber, or rhizom'a ; the stems groW about a foot high ; and the leaves are small and quite heart-shaped. 
The plant is a native of Mount Oaucasus, whence it was introduced in 1815. It is quite hardy in British 
gardens, and flowers in April, 
There are few other species of Doronicum, all with yellow flowers, but they are seldom seen in British gardens. 
