This gorgeous plant is a digitalis campanulata (foxglove). The Latin name for this flower, digitalis, means finger, and its blossoms are nearly identical to a human finger. However, because of the plant’s extremely deadly blooms and leaves, it should not be grown in areas where children congregate. The original home ranges of digitalis were in Western Asia, Northern Africa, and Europe.
Depending on the species, the tubular flowers are produced on a tall spike and range in color from purple to pink, white, and yellow. The scientific name contains the word “finger.” The genus was previously placed to the figwort family Scrophulariaceae, but phylogenetic study prompted taxonomists to move it to the Veronicaceae in 2001.
The most well-known species is the common foxglove, Digitalis purpurea. This biennial is widely planted as an ornamental plant because to its brilliant blossoms, which range in color from pure white to pure pink to various degrees of purple. The flowers may also contain spottings and patterns that differ from one another. D. ferruginea, D. grandiflora, D. lutea, and D. parviflora are additional garden-friendly species.
Digitalis refers to drug formulations that contain cardiac glycosides, most notably digoxin, derived from several species of this plant genus. Despite its medicinal use, foxglove is exceedingly toxic to humans and other animals, and intake can be lethal.
Digitalis refers to drug formulations that contain cardiac glycosides, most notably digoxin, derived from several species of this plant genus. Despite its medicinal use, foxglove is exceedingly toxic to humans and other animals, and intake can be lethal.
The genus name Digitalis is derived from the Latin word digitus (finger). In his 1542 work De historia stirpium commentarii insignes, Leonhart Fuchs named this plant after the German slang term Fingerhut, which literally translates as “finger hat” but is more appropriately “thimble.”