P1>ANTS FURNTSHTNO MEDICINAI. LEAVES AND HERB.S. 



153 



TTabitat and range. — Originally introduced into thi.s country from Europe as an orna- 

 mental garden ])lant, foxglove may now be found wild in a few localities in parts of 

 Oregon, Washington, and West Virginia, having escaped from cultivation and assumed 

 the character of a weed . It occurs along roads and fence rows, in small cleared places, 

 and on the borders of timber land. 



Description. — Foxglove, a liiennial or perennial Ix'longing to the figwort family 

 (Scrophulariacea^), during 

 the first year of its growth 

 produces only a dense 

 rosette of leaves, but in 

 the second season the 

 do\\Tiy and leafy flower- 

 ing stalk, reaching a 

 height of 3 to 4 feet, a])- 

 pears. The basal leaves 

 are rather large, with long 

 stalks, while the upper 

 ones gTadually become 

 smaller and are borne on 

 shorter leafstalks. The 

 ovate or oval leaves, 4 to 

 12 inches long and about 

 half as wide, the upper 

 surface of which is dull 

 green and wrinkled, are 

 narrowed at the base into 

 long winged stalks; the 

 lower surface of the leaves 

 shows a thick network of 

 prominent veins and is 

 grajdsh, with soft, short 

 hau's. The apex is blunt 

 or pointed and the mar- 

 gins are round toothed. 

 ^^^len foxglove is in 

 flower, about June, it is a 

 most handsome plant, the 

 long terminal clusters 



Fig. 26. — Foxglove (Di, lit ills piirpurci), leaves and flowers. 



(about 14 inches in length) of numerous tubular, bell-shaped flowers making a very 

 showy appearance. The individual flowers are about 2 inches long and vary in color 

 from whitish through lavender and purple; the inside of the lower lobe is white, 

 with crimson spots and furnished with long, soft, white hairs. (Fig. 25.) The capsule 

 is ovoid, tM^o celled, and many seeded. 



Collection, prices, and uses. — The leaves, which are official in the United Slates 

 Pharmacopoeia, are collected fi-om plants of the second year's growth just about the 

 time that they are coming into flower. They should be very carefully dried in the 

 shade soon after collection and as rapidly as possible, preserving them in dark, air- 

 tight receptacles. The leaves soon lose their medicinal properties if not properlv 

 dried or if exposed to light and moisture. Foxglove brings about 6 to 8 cents a pound. 

 At present most of the foxglove or digitalis used comes to this country from Europe, 

 where the plant grows wild and is also cultivated. 



Foxglove has a faint, rather peculiar odor and a very bitter, nauseous taste. Prepa- 

 rations made from it are of great value in affections of the heart, but they are poisonous 

 and should be used only on the advice of aphj'sician. 

 219 



