318 



Observations now Ix'ini: niiulc iiimn several species and varieties of 

 digitalis have revealed variations which wonld prove of considerable 

 connnercial value if found associated with a correspondingly high per- 

 centage of active jirinciple. A dissimilarity of leaf forms has been ob- 

 tained in plants grown from seed which oft'er vaiuahle uialerial for selec- 

 tion as to form, size, color, and arrauirenient. relative number per plant, 

 length ')f petiole, texture and curiir,' projiertics. Differences have also 

 l.'een noted as to rate and peicentn<4e of seed germination, flowering period. 

 I roduction of suckers, hardiness, and ease of propagation and cultivation. 



in the course of an investigation upon a form of digitalis found grow- 

 ing adventively in parts of Oregon, an excellent example has been ol)t;uni';l 

 of the uncertainty of the botanical origin of commercial digitalis and thp 

 (lifHculty of the separation of distinct forms upon a basis of leaf chax'- 

 acters. One hundred and forty plants said to represent the first year's 

 growth were obtained from this source. These plants were collected in 

 the open and represented a locality from which commercial digitalis leaves 

 had been marketed. These plants arrived in excellent condition and wer^' 

 transplanted in the open near Indianapolis in early spring. They were 

 closely observed throughout the season and during this time but few 

 plants tlowered. all of these, however, coming true to the description of 

 Digitalis purpurea L. and were quite uniform as to leaf characters. The 

 1(1 ants made excellent growth during the summer and went into the winter 

 as large, strong healthful plants in tit condition for exiierimental pur- 

 poses. To test this form for hardiness in this latitude these plants were 

 left in an exjKised locality in an unprotected condition throughout the 

 year. Forty-three per cent, withstood the severe winter of I'.Md-ll and 

 Howered, but very irregularly, during the ensuing sununer. The effects of 

 the exjHJSure wei'e mai'ift>sted by a nuicli lower proilnction of leaves than 

 that attained dui'ing the lirst yeai's growth. Among the sixty plants 

 which survived the winter there was one which jiroduced racemes of pure 

 while tloweis instead n| the characteristic puri)le tiowers of Digitalis pur- 

 jairea I.. The presence d' this form among a comparatively small number 

 ol iilaiits indicates the admixture of a varietal form, the medicinal prop- 

 el lies 111' \\hi<li are not known. 'I'lie other individuals which tlowered 

 wire laiily nnifoim in all visible characters except as to variations in 

 tlnwcr arrangement, some bearing upriu'lit instead i)f drooi»iug flowers. 

 an .arrangement wliich gave the plants a striking appearance. Seed selec- 



