Foxglove
|
Botanical Name |
Digitalis purpurea |
|
Family |
Scrophulariaceae |
|
Other Names |
Bloody fingers, cowflop, cowslip, dead man’s bells, digitalis, dogs fingers, fairy caps, fairy gloves, fairy petticoats, fairy thimbles, fingerhut (German), flop a dock, dead man’s bells, flop poppy, floppy dock, folk’s glove, fox bells, gloves of our lady, goblin’s glove, green pops, green poppies, lion’s mouth, lusmore, lus na oau side (Irish Gaelic) pop dock, pop glove, poppy, poppy dock, purple foxglove, revbie ide (Norwegian), scabbit dock, virgin’s gloves, witch’s bells, witch’s glove, witches thimbles, woolly foxglove |
|
Habitat |
Hedges, woods, verges, river banks, hillsides |
|
Description |
Biennial or perennial 1-2m/3-6ft tall. Stems: Erect, unbranched covered in soft hairs. Leaves: ovate, opposite, broad, blunt, finely toothed, soft green/grey underneath, 10-30cm long up to 10cm wide, sub-acute apex, crenate margin. Flowers large drooping bells pink/purple with dark spots surrounded by white rings inside each one of them June – September |
|
Native to |
Britain, Europe |
|
Cultivated in |
USA, India |
|
Cultivation |
Especially likes acid soil |
|
Parts Used |
Leaves |
|
Actions |
Cardiac tonic |
|
Constituents |
Cardenolides; glycosides based on digitoxigenin, gitoxigenin, gitaloxigenin – digitoxinm gitoxin. Anthraquinones –alizarin derivatives Flavonoids, saponins |
|
Traditional Uses |
Diuretic, heart disease |
|
Other Notes |
The life saving drug digitalis comes from this plant The folk name dead man’s bells comes from a Scottish belief that a person close to death can hear the plant ring its bells Fox is derived from “little fold” or “fairy” It is known as a flower that attracts fairies Attracts honeybees Its name witches thimble comes from the fact that witches adorned their fingers with them It is said foxes also wear them to deaden their footsteps whilst raiding the chicken coup Planet: Venue Element: Water |
|
Caution |
Do not take internally – toxic |
Foxglove –Yellow
|
Botanical Name |
Digitalis grandiflora |
|
Family |
Scrophulariaceae |
|
Habitat |
Woods, scrub |
|
Description |
Hairy up to 1m tall. Upright, un-branched stems Leaves: alternate, un-stalked, long pointed Flowers short stalked pale yellow with brown veins July-August |
|
Native to |
Europe |
|
Constituents |
Cardiac glycosides |
|
Other Notes |
Protected in many countries |
|
Caution |
Poisonous |
Foxglove –Grecian
|
Botanical Name |
Digitalis lanata |
|
Family |
Scrophulariaceae |
|
Other Names |
Woolly foxglove |
|
Habitat |
Wasteland |
|
Description |
Biennial Up to 1m tall. Leaves: lanceolate. Basal rosette Flowers stalked pale yellow with brown veins |
|
Native to |
Europe |
|
Constituents |
Cardiac glycosides |
|
Caution |
Poisonous |