Foxgloves

Today's the day ............................. for a medicinal compound

It is impossible not to be impressed by this very striking plant.

Equally at home growing in the wild country hedgerows or carefully planted in the exhibition gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show, it could never be described as a shrinking violet. It makes a bold statement wherever it grows - and it's usually the centre of attraction. Although it does have a slightly sinister look about it at the same time - something to do with those spots perhaps? It's not a flower that you would go and pick - and for good reason.

It's one of the few plants whose curative properties have been tested and accepted by orthodox medicine. A scientist named William Withering was asked, in 1775, to examine a herbal drink used in Shropshire to cure dropsy, and correctly identified foxglove leaves as its most effective ingredient. This led to the scientifically controlled use of digitalin to treat various types of heart disease.

On the other hand, wrongly used, foxgloves can cause fatal heart failure. So it's definitely a plant to be treated with respect ......................