Phil's photos with the keyword: Digitalis

Digitalis is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous perennials, shrubs, and biennials commonly called foxgloves. This genus is native to most parts of Western and South-Western Europe, Western and central Asia, Australasia and North-Western Africa. The scientific name means "finger-like" and refers to the ease with which a flower of Digitalis can be fitted over a human fingertip. The flowers are produced on a tall spike, are tubular and vary in colour with species from purple to pink, white, and yellow. The best-known species is the common foxglove, Digitalis purpurea. This biennial plant is often grown as an ornamental plant due to its vivid flowers which range in colour from various purple tints through various shades of light grey and pure white. The flowers can also possess various marks and spots. A group of medicines extracted from foxglove plants are called Digitalin. It is used to increase cardiac contractility and as an antiarrhythmic agent to control the heart rate. Digitalis is often prescribed for patients in atrial fibrillation, especially if they have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure. (Wikipedia).