Family |
Asteraceae
Doronicum orientale
Hoffm.
Doronicum orientale Hoffm.
(First published in Commentat. Soc. Phys.-Med. Univ. Lit. Caes. Mosq. 1: 8 (1808); Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 3; 1983; treated by POWO as a synonym of Doronicum caucasicum M.Bieb.)
• Life-form & habit : Perennial rhizomatous hemicryptophyte; stems erect, simple or little-branched, usually 20–60 cm tall, arising from a short rhizome.
• Leaves : Basal leaves long-petiolate, cordate to broadly ovate, crenate-dentate, green and softly pubescent; cauline leaves alternate, smaller, sessile to semi-amplexicaul, progressively reduced upward.
• Inflorescence & flowers : Capitula solitary or few, terminal, showy; involucre campanulate with lanceolate bracts; ray florets yellow, ligulate and spreading; disc florets yellow, tubular.
• Fruit : Achenes oblong, ribbed, those of the ray florets often without pappus or with reduced pappus, those of the disc florets usually with a pappus of scabrid hairs.
• Phenology : Flowers in spring.
• Habitat & elevation : Moist woodland margins, shaded rocky slopes, forest clearings and humid montane places.
• Lebanese distribution : Recorded from central Lebanon, in humid shaded mountain habitats.
• Native range : E. Central & SE. Europe to Caucasus and Central Lebanon.
• Diagnostic remarks : Recognised by its cordate basal leaves and large yellow daisy-like capitula; currently placed by POWO under Doronicum caucasicum, but often encountered in regional literature and horticulture under the name Doronicum orientale.