DESCRIPTION

Its generally unique stem is downy,

• its floral clusters of corollas are turned on one side (towards the light).

• the corolla is composed of 5 welded petals. It is lined with white, bell-shaped dark pink color and dotted inside dark spots. The corollas are inclined towards the ground.

• it has 4 stamens and 2 stigmas.

• the ripe (fruit) capsules are oval and hairy.

• the leaves down the stem are large and oval or spear-shaped, with long petioles. They form at the base a large rosette which disappears in favor of leaves arranged alternately on the stem. The more we go back along the stem plus the leaves and their petiole diminish in size, to finish sessile at the top.

​

HISTORY

The symmetrical flowers of the digitalis, with petals welded into a bulbous or tubular corolla in the shape of a thimble, are at the origin of the popular names of the plant. Some rare subjects may sometimes present a different terminal flower, symmetrical, circular and widely open. In the 17th century, C. La Voisin and the Marquise de Brinvilliers were both imprisoned and executed for using, among other things, the foxglove in a somewhat imaginative way: venomous clothes, death ring, toxic candle ... It is only in 1868 that a Frenchman, Nativelle, succeeds in isolating, by crystallization, a substance extracted from the leaves of digitalis which will take the name of "digitaline".

​

HABITAT

The foxglove is a plant of Western Europe. It has established itself in the open woods, clearings and on the brushy slopes. This plant likes non-calcareous soils in alpine and subalpine regions. Occurs between 400 and 1400 m.

​

PARTICULARITIES

Aside from its highly appreciated ornamental character, its leaves are used in medicine as cardiotonic. It acts according to the rule of the 3 Rs: Reinforce, Regulate and Slow motion, it is this last effect that can cause death by stopping the heart in case of intoxication or wrong dosage. It is also used in veterinary medicine, especially for the horse. This flower is very toxic !! Recognized in the 16th century (L.Fuchs), it manifests itself as soon as very small amounts are absorbed (40 gr of fresh leaves can cause death). First appear digestive disorders (vomiting, diarrhea), behavioral disorders (drowsiness or agitation, mental confusion), visual disturbances (changes in colors, flickering, vision of colored halos in yellow), and finally serious heart problems that can cause death.

​

THREAT

This flower is very toxic ! It can be deadly !

​

​