''Digitalis ciliata'', commonly called Hairy Foxglove is a member of the genus '' Digitalis''. It has thimble-shaped, yellow to cream colored flowers produced on perennial plants with evergreen foliage. It is native to the Caucasus and is grown as an ornamental in other parts of the world. The species name is derived from the fine hairs that cover the plants stems and flowers.

Description

Individuals of these species are

herbs In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

that grow from anywhere between 30 cm and 60 cm tall. They have an alternate leaf pattern with small green lanceolate leaveshttp://www.rareplants.de. 2012. ''Digitalis ciliata'' (Yellow Caucasus Foxglove). Web 30 April 2012. http://www.rareplants.de/shop/product.asp?P_ID=11983 that are known for both their medicinal purposes and high toxicity when ingested. The flowers are located at the terminal ends of the stems, and are arranged in a inflorescence pattern known as a '

raceme A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

Flowers and fruit

The flowers of ''Digitalis ciliata'' are a distinguishing feature that gave the entire genus its name, as it has a campanulate structure that also resembles a thimble and fits on the tip of the finger. The perianth has five parts and the color of the

corolla Corolla may refer to: *Corolla (botany), the petals of a flower, considered as a unit *Toyota Corolla, an automobile model name * Corolla (headgear), an ancient headdress in the form of a circlet or crown * ''Corolla'' (gastropod), a genus of moll ...

is a pale-yellow. The

species epithet Specific name may refer to: * in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules: * Specific name (botany) A botanical name ...

, ''ciliata'', is indicative of the tiny “hairs” that are apparent on the upper and lower lips of the corolla. There are also tiny hairs that cover the leaves of the plant. The fruit is a capsule.

Distribution

''Digitalis ciliata'' is native to the Caucasus area.

Ecology

''Digitalis ciliata'' can be found in meadows, pastures, in the margins of forests, and also on slopes, as it is indigenous to mountainous terrain.

Uses

Horticulture

It can also be grown throughout the world where there is warm enough weather and well-drained yet moist soil. It can be grown as an ornamental plant in both Europe and North America.

Medicinal

''Digitalis ciliata'' is used to isolate cardenolide glycolosides and is abundant in basically all of the glycosides that the '' Digitalis'' genus is known for. These common glycosides include digitoxigenin, gitoxigenin, digoxigenin, gitaloxigenin, and diginatigenin. The seeds of ''D. ciliata'' are rich in the steroid glycoside digitonin, along with other lipids that are important in cardiac treatments.Kemertelidze, E. 2007. Biologically Active Compounds and original remedies from plants growing in Georgia. pp. 91-93. http://www.science.org.ge/2007-vol1/91-95.pdf Not only is ''D. ciliata'' useful in the cardiac sector of medicine, but its anti-proliferative roles are also being looked into for its possible role in suppressing tumors. There may be evidence that the

saponin Saponins (Latin "sapon", soap + "-in", one of), also selectively referred to as triterpene glycosides, are bitter-tasting usually toxic plant-derived organic chemicals that have a foamy quality when agitated in water. They are widely distributed ...

s found in this species have an anti-tumor effect by aiding in cell cycle arrest and cell death, or

apoptosis Apoptosis (from grc, ἀπόπτωσις, apóptōsis, 'falling off') is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes (morphology) and death. These changes incl ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4312974 ciliata