Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Foxglove

FOXGLOVE, in botany, the genus Digitalis, and specially the species D. purpurea, the purple foxglove. It grows to the height of three or four feet, with very long spikes of numerous drooping flowers, which are generally purple, though occasionally white. D. purpurea yields a valuable cardiac tonic and diuretic. The Canary foxglove is D. canariensis; the downy false foxglove is an American name for Gerardia flava; and the ladies' foxglove is Verbascum thapsus. They succeed well in light, rich soil.