Foxgloves and
their official name, the ominous sounding Digitalis thrive in the Chilterns. In late June early July thy make a proud stand of purple-pink-violet. They are at home
the partial sunlight of hedgerows or deep
shade of our woods.
And we pass them on the Saturday morning
bike ride, in a range of haunts, including open clearings, heath margins.
NIL BY MOUTH
Depending on the species, the digitalis
plant may contain several deadly physiological and chemically related cardiac
and steroidal glycosides. The Foxglove earned several, more sinister, names: dead man’s bells and witch's gloves.
Nonetheless Foxgloves are lovely to
watch at this time of year.
I remember as a kid putting Foxglove flowers on my fingers (digits) and playing with them like finger-puppets - probably not the best thing to do in view of their poisonous nature!
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