GeoGraph - photograph every grid square

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

This plant was growing close to the edge of the Devil's Pulpit (a deep gorge). As is well known, it is poisonous, containing digitoxin (which can be used to treat certain heart conditions, though with the disadvantage that the difference between an ineffective dose and a fatal one is rather narrow). It also contains digoxigenin, a compound with important applications in molecular biology.

Inside a foxglove flower, on the upper surface, two yellow rod-shaped pollinia (pollen-bearing structures) are visible. Bumble-bees can often be seen going in and out of foxglove flowers; the pollinia deposit some pollen on their backs.

For some other common but very poisonous plants, see NS3976 : Hemlock Water-Dropwort and NS8279 : Monk's-hood (an Aconitum species).