digitalis

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)Any plant of the genus Digitalis (herbaceous plants of the Plantaginaceae family, including the foxglove, Digitalis purpurea).

   “11. Delphiniums and digitalises.”

   “At the Medico-Botanical Society on Tuesday, Dr. Morries, made some some observations on opium, digitales, conium, and hyoscyamus, and exhibited specimens of oils obtained from the latter plants.”

   “Polemoniums of various species, aubretias, dwarf phloxes, delphiniums, digitalises, gerums, erigerons and a number of other things have bloomed a second time […]”

2. (countable, uncountable)A medical extract of Digitalis purpurea prescribed for heart failure etc.

   “‘You very nearly died. I had to give you digitalis three times.’”

   “The ancient remedy digitalis, extracted from the foxglove plant, for example, acts by blocking sodium channels in heart muscle, preventing potentially dangerous overactivity.”