Digitalis L.

Foxglove

Latin digitus — finger, referring to the shape of the flower.

Biennial and perennial herbs, occasionally small shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate, sometimes mostly in a basal cluster. Flower clusters mostly terminal and often 1-sided with bracts. Calyx of 5 equal lobes, shorter than the tube. Corolla 4-lobed, with a cylindrical or inflated tube that is often constricted at the base, 2-lipped, the upper lip shorter than the lower. Stamens 4. Fruit a capsule.

Grown as border plants for the spires of attractively coloured, tubular flowers.

Seed, occasionally by division.

Leaves alternate; stamens 4; calyx cut nearly to the base; corolla 2-lipped.

About 20 species from C Asia to NW Africa and Europe.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Scrophulariaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Asteranae
order      Lamiales
family       Plantaginaceae
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
species         Digitalis purpurea L.