The Foxglove of Tiny Flowers

Habit: A perennial herb 50-90 cm tall, supported by a dark brown horizontal woody rhizome. Leaves: Alternate, oblong-lanceolate, entirely glabrous except for a slight ciliation along the weakly toothed margin. Lower leaves petiolate, upper leaves sessile and progressively reduced upward along the flowering axis. Flowers: Arranged in a compact, often one-sided terminal raceme with closely packed flowers. Corolla yellowish with brownish spots, small and tubular. The lower lobe is obovate, with reddish streaks that guide pollinators and a dense internal indumentum. Fruits: A globose capsule ending abruptly in an acute tip. Flowering: June-August.

Chorological type: Italian endemic. Distribution: Present in central and southern Italy. Habitat: A versatile species colonising dry pastures, beech clearings and mixed Apennine woodlands between 300 and 1800 m above sea level.

Generic name (Digitalis): From the Latin digitus, meaning “finger”, in reference to the gamopetalous corolla resembling a sewing thimble. Specific name (micrantha): From the Greek mikros, “small”, and anthos, “flower”, highlighting the reduced size of its flowers compared with those of more showy congeners such as Digitalis purpurea.

Apennine foxglove is a medicinal but highly toxic species. Like other members of the genus Digitalis, it produces cardioactive glycosides, compounds that affect the rhythm and strength of the heartbeat, making it extremely dangerous if ingested. Although it contains similar active principles, it is not used on an industrial pharmaceutical scale; for the production of cardiotonic drugs, D. lanata and D. purpurea are preferred because they provide a higher and more stable yield of active compounds. Domestic or folk use of this plant must be absolutely avoided because of the high risk of fatal poisoning.