Friday 13 June 2014
Digitalis is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous
perennials, shrubs, and biennials commonly called foxgloves. This genus was traditionally placed in the figwort family
Scrophulariaceae, but recent phylogenetic research has placed it in the much
enlarged family Plantaginaceae. This genus is native to western and
southwestern Europe, western and central Asia, Australasia and
northwestern Africa. The scientific name means "finger-like" and
refers to the ease with which a flower of Digitalis purpurea can be fitted over a human fingertip. The
flowers are produced on a tall spike, are tubular, and vary in colour with
species, from purple to pink, white, and yellow. The best-known species is the
common foxglove, Digitalis purpurea. Source
