Foxglove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Foxglove |
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| Digitalis purpurea (Common Foxglove) | |
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Digitalis
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About 20 species, including: |
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Digitalis is a group of about 20 different plant types. These plants are usually called foxgloves. They can be herbaceous perennials (plants that live for more than two years and die back in winter), shrubs, or biennials (plants that live for two years). Foxgloves are originally from Europe, parts of Asia, and northwestern Africa.
The word digitalis can also mean special medicines. These medicines contain substances called cardiac glycosides. A well-known one is digoxin. These medicines are made from parts of the foxglove plant.
Contents
Discovering Foxglove Plants
Foxgloves are famous for their tall, colorful flowers. These flowers often look like thimbles or bells. They grow in a spike along a central stem. The colors can be purple, pink, white, or yellow.
What Makes Foxgloves Special?
Many foxglove species are very beautiful. People often grow them in gardens. They add a lovely touch to flower beds. Some types are wild and grow in forests or fields.
Where Do Foxgloves Grow?
You can find foxgloves in many places. They like areas with some shade. Forests, woodlands, and even rocky hillsides are common spots. They are found across Europe and parts of Asia. Some types also grow in northwestern Africa.
Foxgloves and Medicine
For a long time, people have known about foxgloves. They have been used in traditional medicine. In the 1700s, a doctor named William Withering studied them. He found that foxglove could help people with heart problems.
How Foxglove Helps the Heart
The medicines made from foxglove, like digoxin, are very important. They help the heart beat stronger and more regularly. This can be very helpful for people with certain heart conditions. These medicines are used to treat problems like heart failure and irregular heartbeats.
Important Safety Note
It is very important to know that all parts of the foxglove plant are poisonous. This means you should never eat any part of a foxglove. Even touching the plant can sometimes cause a mild skin reaction. Only trained doctors and scientists should work with foxglove for medicine. The medicines are made very carefully in labs. Never try to use the plant yourself for any medical purpose.
Images for kids
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Digitalis lutea
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Pink common foxglove with bee
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Hendrik Goltzius, A Foxglove in Bloom, 1592, National Gallery of Art, NGA 94900
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A patch of Digitalis purpurea in Seattle
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Digitalis purpurea -- light purple
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Digitalis purpurea drawings by Franz Köhler
See also
In Spanish: Digitales para niños
