Digitalis purpurea
Plantaginaceae
Late May to September
It is found throughout the country.
See the BSBI distribution map for Foxglove
It is common in hedges, woods, grassland and waste
ground.
Foxglove is a striking, native, biennial herb, growing up
to 2m.
The flowers are in long spikes (2m).
Each is 4-5cm long and made up of 5 fused, pink-purple
petals to give a slightly 2-lipped corolla.
White strains are also found.
Inside the corolla the petals have white patches with
purple spots. The petal edges are hairy.
There are 4 stamens with white filaments and
yellow to orange anthers.
The style is a white and filiform with a bifid stigma,
which extends as the stamens wither and persists
in the fruit.
The fruits are capsules.
Foxgloves seed prolifically and germinate readily.
Leaves are large, alternate, broadly ovate to
lanceolate and downy.
The lower leaves are in a rosette, as seen in the
picture showing a foxglove plant before the
development of the flower spikes.
The leaves of foxgloves are the source of the heart
stimulant, digitalin.
Previous page: Field Madder
Next page: Foxglove-tree
Foxgloves in a hedgebank
Flowers - slightly 2-lipped
View into corolla - anthers
4 stamens with yellow anthers and a
developing style
Bifid stigma and remains of stamen
within the corolla
Styles with bifid stigmas and
remains of calyx
Developing capsules
Alternate oval/lanceolate leaves
Rosette of leaves in woodland - April
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