yellow foxglove

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• large yellow foxglove
• yellow foxglove

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Digitalis buxbaumii
• Digitalis ochroleuca var. firmior
• Digitalis grandiflora var. acutiflora
• Digitalis flava
• Digitalis ambigua var. grandiflora
• Digitalis ambigua var. acutiloba
• Digitalis ambigua var. obtusiloba
• Digitalis grandiflora var. ochroleuca
• Digitalis magniflora
• Digitalis ambigua var. obtusiflora
• Digitalis ambigua var. excelsa
• Digitalis milleri
• Digitalis grandiflora f. peterfiana
• Digitalis ochroleuca

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Lamiales and the family Plantaginaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is defined by the genus Digitalis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Digitalis grandiflora, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions within Middle Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Austria and Germany. Its presence also extends to the territories of Belgium within the same central European zone. Furthermore, the species is documented in the regions of Czechia and Slovakia. Finally, its habitat includes the various terrains located throughout Hungary.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Digitalis grandiflora is characterized by its adaptability to diverse terrestrial environments, ranging from shaded woodland settings to more open, sun-exposed landscapes. It is commonly found colonizing forest interiors and forest edges, where it benefits from the dappled light and nutrient-rich leaf litter. Beyond the forest canopy, the species also thrives in meadows and mountainous regions, demonstrating a capacity to inhabit varied elevations and soil conditions. Additionally, its presence in parks indicates a tolerance for managed landscapes, provided the ecological requirements for moisture and soil structure are met.

Habitat :

forest,forestedges,meadows,mountains,parks

Life history

The life history of Digitalis grandiflora is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennable buds are situated at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or debris during unfavorable periods. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as it transitions through its seasonal cycles. Through its life cycle, the plant maintains its presence in its habitat by leveraging this hemicryptophytic growth habit to endure dormant phases before re-emerging.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Digitalis grandiflora is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. This plant is a self-supporting organism that does not function as a climber or a liana, and it grows as an independent species rather than a parasite or epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.4 m to a maximum of 1.2 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.525 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.2 m

Plant height mean:

0.525 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Digitalis grandiflora is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy among temperate herbaceous plants that allows for efficient carbon fixation under moderate light and temperature conditions. The plant exhibits significant morphological investment in its foliage, with an average leaf size of 74.155 cm², indicating a substantial surface area dedicated to light interception and gas exchange. This leaf architecture is further defined by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 261.91 cm²/g, suggesting a relatively thin and expansive leaf structure that optimizes the ratio of photosynthetic surface area to biomass, thereby facilitating rapid metabolic processes and resource acquisition.

Leaf size mean:

74.155 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

261.91 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Digitalis grandiflora is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and specialized mechanisms for pollination and seed dispersal. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in August, facilitating a concentrated reproductive window. The plant employs a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. While it utilizes these animal vectors, self-fertilization is also present, ensuring reproductive success even in the absence of pollinators. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces very fine seeds with a mean mass of approximately 0.0001741665 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00014 g to a maximum of 0.00022 g. These seeds are dispersed via an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are primarily spread by the wind, allowing the species to colonize new areas through aerial transport.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.00022 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0001741665 g

Seed mass min:

0.00014 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Digitalis grandiflora has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Cardenolides, Cleroindicin A, Cornoside, Hispidulin.

Flavonoids

1. Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des seances de l'Academie des sciences. Serie D: Sciences naturelles
2. Frontiers in plant science

Cardenolides

1. Frontiers in plant science

Cleroindicin A

1. Fitoterapia

Cornoside

1. Fitoterapia

Hispidulin

1. Frontiers in plant science

Rengyoside A

1. Fitoterapia

Rengyoside B

1. Fitoterapia

Salidroside

1. Fitoterapia

digoxin

1. Frontiers in plant science

p-coumaric acid

1. Frontiers in plant science