PLANTS FURNISHING MEDICINAL LEAVES AND HERBS. 30 
Habitat and range.—Originally introduced into this country from Europe as an orna- 
mental garden plant, 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 biennial or perennial belonging to the figwort family 
(Scrophulariaceze), during 
the first year of its growth 
produces only a dense 
rosette of leaves, but in 
the second season the 
downy and leafy flower- 
ing stalk, reaching a 
height of 3 to 4 feet, ap- 
pears. The basal leaves 
are rather large, with long 
stalks, while the upper 
ones gradually 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 
grayish, with soft, short 
hairs. The apex is blunt 
or pointed and the mar- 
gins are round toothed. 
When foxglove is in 
flower, about June, it isa 
most handsome plant, the 
long terminal clusters 
(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, two celled, and many seeded. . 
Collection, prices, and uses.—The leaves, which are official in the United States 
Pharmacopeeia, are collected from 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 properly 
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 ofa physician. 
219 
Fig. 25.—Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), leaves and flowers. 
