Doronicum plants are native to Asian and European mountain areas, where they have been traditionally used medicinally. In today’s world however, the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids makes this herb off-limits to internal uses.
Doronicum orientale is one of the earliest-flowering of the yellow daisies. It grows from a thickened rhizome [underground stem]. The leaves appear in February, and the plant becomes dormant by late summer.
A top view is shown here.