fingerflower
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A tall European plant: A tall, leafy, European biennial or perennial plant (Digitalis purpurea) known for its striking clusters of large, tubular, pink-purple flowers. Its leaves are the source of the drug digitalis and are toxic to livestock and humans.
Usage Notes
- "Fingerflower" is a common name primarily for the species , also widely known as "foxglove."
- It is used to refer to the entire plant, emphasizing its distinctive, finger-shaped flowers.
- The term highlights both the plant's ornamental beauty and its medicinal/toxic properties.
Examples
- The hillside was covered with wild fingerflower, their purple spires standing out against the green.
- Fingerflower is both a beloved garden plant and an important source of heart medicine.
- Farmers must ensure their cattle do not graze where fingerflower grows, as the leaves are poisonous.
Advanced Usage
- In botanical/medical contexts: The term is used to identify the plant species in discussions of horticulture, pharmacology, or toxicology.
- The active compounds in fingerflower are classified as cardiac glycosides.
Variants and Related Words
- Foxglove (n): The most common synonym for "fingerflower."
- Digitalis (n):
- The genus name for plants including the fingerflower/foxglove.
- The drug derived from the leaves of these plants.
- Digitalis purpurea (n): The formal botanical Latin name for the common fingerflower/foxglove.
Synonyms
- Foxglove
- Common foxglove
- Fairy gloves
- Lady's glove
Notes on Meaning
- The name "fingerflower" directly describes the shape of the individual blossoms, which resemble the fingers of a glove.
- It carries connotations of natural beauty, danger, and healing, reflecting the plant's dual role in gardens and medicine.
Noun
- tall leafy European biennial or perennial having spectacular clusters of large tubular pink-purple flowers; leaves yield drug digitalis and are poisonous to livestock