A FREAK FOXGLOVE 



By J. C. Nelson 



IT would be hard to imagine a more complete departure from 

 the typical form than is shown in the foxglove {Digitalis 

 purpurea) pictured herewith. This species, which is common in 

 cultivation and an abundant escape in the Pacific Northwest, 

 penetrating far into the mountains, has never shown .any special 

 tendency to variation, except in the matter of color, where a 

 wide range \\va\ 1)e observed. The abnormal specimen above 

 shown was found in tlie garden of Mr. T. R. Jones at Salem. 

 Oregon. At tlie time of collection (June 6, 1919) the stem 

 had reached a height of 115 cm. At 76 cm. the first flowers 

 appeared, and 26 of these, normal in every way, had opened. 

 The abnormal, seemingly terminal inflorescence — tor it nuu^t 

 be regarded as a coalescent groui) rather than a single flower, 

 was 10.5 cm. wide, and included 1? perfect stamens and 5 nar- 



