Confused about the botanic name of Farfugium japonicum?

This plant suffers lots of confusion with its name, with its botanic name getting mixed up in nurseries a lot. 

Farfugium japonicum is a valid botanic name and is the current name of what was once named as Farfugium japonicum var. giganteum. This species is from subtropical zones of China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

Here are some of the names that often get confused with the Farfugium japonicum:

• Ligularia dentata - Looks a little similar but NOT the same - has orange flowers and serrated leaf edges (hence the Latin dentata meaning "toothed".
• Cremanthodium reniforme - Refers to a similar looking plant, which has thinner leaves, but with the key difference being pendant flowers, as opposed to the small upright daisy style of flowers of the Farfugium japonicum. 
• Ligularia reniformis - Invalid botanic name. Misapplied species, now considered a synonym of Cremanthodium reniforme.  
• Ligularia dentata reniformis - Invalid botanic name. Usually refers to Cremanthodium reniforme.
• Ligularia japonicum 'Giganteum' - sometimes sold with this name but it's an invalid Botanic name.
• Ligularia tussilaginea - old trade name. 

Quick ID trick (works every time)

• Upright daisy flowers? → Farfugium japonicum

• Dangly, bell-shaped flowers? → Cremanthodium reniforme

Leaves alone will lie to you. Flowers don’t.

Bottom line

• Cremanthodium reniforme is not the correct name for the classic tractor seat plant
• The true tractor seat plant is Farfugium japonicum
• Cremanthodium reniforme is a different but often mislabeled look-alike