Scientific Name
Digitalis purpurea
Common Name
Foxglove

HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!

Characteristics

Family
Scrophulariaceae
Plant Description
Biennial herb with alternate, simple, toothed leaves; flowers in a showy, terminal, elongated cluster, each tubular, pendent, purple, pink, rose, yellow, or white and spotted inside bottom of the tube; fruit a capsule.
Origin
Europe.
Where Found
Houseplant or interiorscape; landscape in flower garden as herbaceous biennial or perennial.
Mode
Ingestion, confusion with Symphytum (comphrey) and brewed into a toxic tea.
Poisonous Part
Leaves, flowers, seeds; overdoses of the drug digitalis.
Symptoms
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, severe headache, irregular and slow pulse, tremors, unusual color visions, convulsions.
Toxic Principle
Cardiac or steroid glycosides.
Severity
HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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