Foxglove
Growth form:[1]
The flowers are produced on a tall spike, are tubular, and vary in color with species, from purple to pink, white, and yellow. This biennial plant is often grown as an ornamental plant due to its vivid flowers which range in color from various purple tints through pink, light grey, and purely white. The flowers can also possess various marks and spottings. The first year of growth produces only the stem with its long, basal leaves. During the second year of the plant's life, a long, leafy stem from 50 to 255 centimeters tall grows atop the roots of healthy plants.
General habitat:
Foxglove thrives in acidic soils, in partial sunlight to deep shade, in a range of habitats, including open woods, woodland clearings, moorland and heath margins, sea-cliffs, rocky mountain slopes and hedge banks. It is commonly found on sites where the ground has been disturbed, such as recently cleared woodland, or where the vegetation has been burnt.
Uses:
Medicinal: It is used to increase and strengthen heart contractions and as a medicine to control the heart rate, particularly in the irregular (and often fast) atrial fibrillation. Taking a foxglove infusion by mouth may improve irregular heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation or flutter.
Only Senior Journeyman and Master Healers may administer or harvest any foxglove due to toxicity risks.
Outside Info:
The entire plant is toxic (including the roots and seeds). Mortality is rare, but case reports do exist. Most plant exposures occur in children younger than six years and are usually unintentional and without associated significant toxicity. More serious toxicity occurs with intentional ingestions by adolescents and adults. Early symptoms of ingestion include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, wild hallucinations, delirium, and severe headache. Depending on the severity of the toxicosis, the victim may later suffer irregular and slow pulse, tremors, various cerebral disturbances, especially of a visual nature (unusual color visions with objects appearing yellowish to green, and blue halos around lights), convulsions, and deadly disturbances of the heart.
