195 DIGITALIS PUBPUREA 



Stamens 4, arising from the base of the corolla, and entirely 

 included in it ; filaments thick, the two lower kneed, longer than 

 the upper ; anthers 2 -celled, cells diverging. Ovary conical, 2- 

 celled ; ovules numerous ; placentas large, spongy, axile ; style 

 filiform, shortly bifid. Capsule ovoid, acuminate,, about fths of an 

 inch long ; pericarp thin, papery, splitting septicidally into 2 valves, 

 which also separate from the axis; seeds abundant, minute, 

 oblong or ovoid, cylindrical, light brown, deeply alveolate ; embryo 

 straight in axis of endosperm. 



Habitat. Perhaps the handsomest of our indigenous plants, 

 and common in most parts of the country on dry sandy or gravelly 

 soils in open woods, heaths, and hedgebanks, making a great show 

 in places where it is abundant; in perfection in July. It is 

 curiously absent from a few of the eastern counties, for example, 

 Cambridgeshire. It grows in most parts of Europe, but is entirely 

 absent from some calcareous districts, e. g. the chain of the Jura ; 

 it also occurs in Madeira and the Azores, but is perhaps introduced 

 there. 



Benth. in DC. Prod., x, p. 451 ; Syme, E. Bot., vi, p. 127 ; Hook, f ., 

 Stud. FL, p. 266 ; Wats., Comp. Cyb. Br., p. 262 ; Gren. & Godr., 

 PI. France, ii, p. 602 ; Lindl. Fl. Med., p. 502. 



Official Part and Name. DIGITALIS FOLIA. The dried leaf; 

 collected from wild indigenous plants when about two thirds 

 of the flowers are expanded (B. P.) The leaves (Digitalis Folia) ; 

 gathered when about two thirds of the flowers are expanded 

 (I. P.) DIGITALIS. The leaves ; from plants of the second year's 

 growth (U. S. P.) 



Collection. The leaves are directed to be gathered when about 

 two thirds of the flowers are expanded, because at this time, 

 that is, before the ripening of the seeds, they are in the most 

 active state. The reason of this may be explained as follows : 

 There are two series of compounds formed by the action of light 

 and air in plants, those of one series having for their object their 

 nutrition, and being therefore directly concerned in their growth and 

 development, and those of the other series, called secretions, 

 playing no active part in plants after their perfect formation, and 



