Digitalis, foxglove, forest bell or digitalis is a native of Europe. The halo of her habitat stretched from the shores of the Mediterranean to the Scandinavian countries. Today, the poisonous purple foxglove can be found in the Ukrainian and Russian expanses. She also pleases the West Siberian population. The flower is also called thimble grass, wine glass or foxglove wolf. She earned her name because of the type of her flowers, each of which bears a resemblance to a thimble or a bell.
Many myths and legends are associated with this plant, as evidenced by the names of this plant, common in European countries. There he is called fox and witch gloves, bloody fingers and dead man's thimbles. A German legend tells the story of an unhappy girl who has a gift from her early mother. These were thimbles that the wicked stepmother took from the poor orphan and buried in the garden on a moonless night so that no one would know. And the next year, strange flowers, unknown to anyone, blossomed in that place. And only the girl recognized in them her gift from her beloved mother. However, the evil sorcerer filled these beautiful flowers with poison so that no one would forget what caused their anger and hatred.
The German inhabitants claimed that the flowers of this plant served as caps for the good magic elves. The Irish called the flower "the witch's thimble", and the French called the "glove of the Virgin Mary".
Foxglove even became the heroine of a detective novel by Agatha Christie, in which the villain used the poison of digitalis to achieve his insidious goals.
Description of foxglove
The plant is distinguished by its height and long flowering period. Its large flowers favorably decorate the garden, and are also excellent honey plants and serve as raw materials in pharmaceuticals. Not so long ago, it was believed that digitalis belongs to the Norich family, but now botanists classify it as a plantain. In its pristine beauty, the flower can be found in the forest or on the roadside, on the riverbank or on a rocky wasteland.
Foxglove purple
Purple digitalis (Digitalis purpurea) refers to biennial shrubs, reaching a height of 150 centimeters. Elliptical leaves with jagged edges have a deep green color and are collected in rosettes. The top of the leaf feels like velvet, while the back is like fluffy fabric. In warm spring time, the flower releases a long arrow, covered with buds, which turn into large bell-shaped flowers, the length of which can reach four centimeters. The color of such thimbles varies from light lilac to deep purple with small dark blotches inside. These blotches serve as bait for pollinating insects.
Digitalis: growing and care
Foxglove is very fond of sunny open places, but will grow in the shade. However, with a lack of light, flowering will not be plentiful and long. Prefers slightly moist, loose soil, flavored with low acidity humus. What will affect the lush and long flowering. It tolerates drought and frost well.
Seed propagation
The European guest is quite independent and can reproduce by self-seeding. But if this is not necessary, then you can simply collect the seeds. This is done after flowering: the seed boxes of the first flowers are collected, which are located at the very bottom of the inflorescence. Store seeds in paper or canvas bags in a dry place.
Sowing is carried out in May-June immediately to a permanent place. Seed germination is very good and at the end of the summer season, soft green bushes appear. Foxglove is intolerant of tightness, so in such a situation, the plants must be thinned out. To do this, the bushes are planted or weeded, leaving an interval of 20-30 cm between them.
You can plant the thimble everywhere: around the perimeter of various structures, along the curbs or on the lawn: both individually and in a flower arrangement. Flowers are also suitable for cutting into a bouquet. Moreover, after each cut, the plant forms new inflorescences, however, less flowery.
Caution!
When growing digitalis, it is necessary to take precautions and not plant it near children, because all parts of this plant are saturated with toxic substances that are most concentrated in the foliage. The individual components of the poisons tone up the work of the heart muscle, help relieve arrhythmias and have a general cardiac stimulating effect.
The healing properties of this plant have long been known. Ancient healers used it for edema, vomiting and constipation. Today, digitalis is used as the basis for pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of circulatory disorders and many diseases associated with the heart. They are used for cardiac arrhythmias and in the treatment of chronic diseases such as heart failure.
Funds containing digitalis tend to accumulate in the body and are highly toxic, therefore, their incorrect use often leads to negative consequences and can cause extensive intoxication of the whole body. Medicines such as Cordigitum can only be taken as directed by a doctor and under his strict supervision.
Symptoms of poisoning are a slow pulse, severe body pain in the body, accompanied by tremors, convulsions and hallucinations, and even mental disorder.
Self-medication with digitalis products is unacceptable! This is fraught with very sad consequences that can even lead to death. The lethal dose of digitalis is only two and a quarter grams.
