Common foxglove, purple foxglove • Digitalis purpurea
{Digitalis from digitus = finger or thimble; purpurea = purple; foxglove = potentially 'gloves for foxes', referring to the flowers; but more likely from foxes-gliew = 'foxes music', as gliew = Anglo-Saxon word for bell}
Identification
Common foxglove has leafy unbranched stems and can grow to nearly 2 m in height. The top portion of the stem bears a long, single-sided cluster of large (4-6 cm long) pinkish-purple or white flowers (colour may vary as multiple varieties and cultivars exist). The interior of these drooping, tube-shaped flowers bears darker purple spots. Egg or lance-shaped leaves alternate along the stem below this flower cluster, with the largest leaves near the base of the stem. The leaves are green and have a soft texture above, and are greyish with a woolly texture underneath.
Habitat & Range
Common foxglove was introduced to coastal BC from Europe. It is listed as "noxious" and "invasive" by the USDA; it does not appear to be a major concern in BC, however, as it is not tracked by BC's Invasive Alien Plant Program and is merely listed as "abundant" by EFlora's invasive species checklist.
Common foxglove grows in disturbed areas at low elevations, such as roadsides, fields, forest edges, and clearings. It is more common along the southern coast of BC and near human settlements; it is found infrequently in parts of the Central Coast, Haida Gwaii, and southeast Alaska. It is also found in parts of other provinces and states throughout western and eastern North America (see range map).
Human Uses
Common foxglove is a popular ornamental flower (hence its introduction from Europe) with many hybrids and cultivars. It also has medical uses: it contains a glycoside called digitoxin, which is a key ingredient in the heart medication digitalis. In 1785 the physician and botanist William Withering discovered foxglove could be used in treating dropsy (edema) and heart failure, though effectiveness varied and the treatment was sometimes fatal due to foxglove's high toxicity. Other uses include folk remedies against colds, fevers, ulcers, and other medical complains. Read more about the development of digitalis as well as other uses in the Kew Gardens species profile.
WARNING: common foxglove is highly poisonous and should not be consumed. All parts of the plant are toxic. Symptoms can include gastrointestinal distress (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), oral pain, heart and kidney problems, and vision and perception issues. It can be potentially fatal. Skin contact with the plant can cause irritation.
Intriguing Info
A folk tale tells of bad fairies giving the flowers to a fox to wear as gloves (hence foxglove) so he could creep unheard around a chicken coop.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/53983-Digitalis-purpurea
Common foxglove has leafy unbranched stems and can grow to nearly 2 m in height. The top portion of the stem bears a long, single-sided cluster of large (4-6 cm long) pinkish-purple or white flowers (colour may vary as multiple varieties and cultivars exist). The interior of these drooping, tube-shaped flowers bears darker purple spots. Egg or lance-shaped leaves alternate along the stem below this flower cluster, with the largest leaves near the base of the stem. The leaves are green and have a soft texture above, and are greyish with a woolly texture underneath.
Habitat & Range
Common foxglove was introduced to coastal BC from Europe. It is listed as "noxious" and "invasive" by the USDA; it does not appear to be a major concern in BC, however, as it is not tracked by BC's Invasive Alien Plant Program and is merely listed as "abundant" by EFlora's invasive species checklist.
Common foxglove grows in disturbed areas at low elevations, such as roadsides, fields, forest edges, and clearings. It is more common along the southern coast of BC and near human settlements; it is found infrequently in parts of the Central Coast, Haida Gwaii, and southeast Alaska. It is also found in parts of other provinces and states throughout western and eastern North America (see range map).
Human Uses
Common foxglove is a popular ornamental flower (hence its introduction from Europe) with many hybrids and cultivars. It also has medical uses: it contains a glycoside called digitoxin, which is a key ingredient in the heart medication digitalis. In 1785 the physician and botanist William Withering discovered foxglove could be used in treating dropsy (edema) and heart failure, though effectiveness varied and the treatment was sometimes fatal due to foxglove's high toxicity. Other uses include folk remedies against colds, fevers, ulcers, and other medical complains. Read more about the development of digitalis as well as other uses in the Kew Gardens species profile.
WARNING: common foxglove is highly poisonous and should not be consumed. All parts of the plant are toxic. Symptoms can include gastrointestinal distress (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), oral pain, heart and kidney problems, and vision and perception issues. It can be potentially fatal. Skin contact with the plant can cause irritation.
Intriguing Info
A folk tale tells of bad fairies giving the flowers to a fox to wear as gloves (hence foxglove) so he could creep unheard around a chicken coop.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/53983-Digitalis-purpurea
References
Digitalis purpurea L. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 11/04/2014.
Pojar, J. and MacKinnon, A. (1994). Plants of Coastal British Columbia. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine Publishing. P. 251.
Tredwell, E. and Davis, S. Digitalis purpurea (common foxglove). Science and Conservation. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Accessed 11/04/2013.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell and Brian Starzomski (2014).
Digitalis purpurea L. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 11/04/2014.
Pojar, J. and MacKinnon, A. (1994). Plants of Coastal British Columbia. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine Publishing. P. 251.
Tredwell, E. and Davis, S. Digitalis purpurea (common foxglove). Science and Conservation. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Accessed 11/04/2013.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell and Brian Starzomski (2014).