The Foxglove

I have taken to distracting myself, not with news, but with the beauty and bounty of nature. Luckily I don’t have far to go since the garden at the restaurant is brimming with spring life. One of my favorite garden surprises, (thanks to one of my plant fairies, Kaitlyn) is the Foxglove that was placed in the planters that flank the stairs that lead to the side entrance.  They emerged from the soil with such provenance that it was difficult not to take note of their presence. It was as if they were beckoning us to take a closer look, which, of course I did. I was so taken by the Alice in Wonderland obscurity of the pattern on the pink flower which somewhat resembles mitochondria. Have you ever taken the time to actually look inside the flowers that grace your space with their beauty and complexity? I say complexity since we often overlook the functional nuances of plant life, how they attract their perspective pollinators, how they secure their longevity and how similar they are to us? The anatomy that attracts and orchestrates the important business of procreation is, in my opinion far more intriguing and as complex and beautiful than what we have to offer! Of course, I must stress, IN MY OPINION! You have yours and I respect that! 

As I peered inside the flower I noticed tiny hairlike projections. WHAT are those?

I immediately had to research the inner life of the Foxglove. They are, like all species that share our biochemistry, complex. I don‘t want to go off the rails explaining ALL of their complex and interesting anatomy so I will just focus on the hairlike follicles that are on the inside of the flower. I discovered that these hairs act as a guide for visiting bees. They force the bee upwards which push there bodies as they enter the corolla (flower) against the stamen (male part of the flower). The pollen that is produced by the anthers (which is the male sex cell) is slightly sticky so it easily adheres to the body of the visiting insect with hopes that it is transported by the bees to another flower.

Foxglove is a blooming contradiction. It is as beautiful as it is toxic. There is an important and potent cardiac medication called digitalis that is derived (or rather synthesized) from Foxglove. In a controlled dosage, digitalis is valuable at treating heart failure. It helps a weakened heart pump harder. However, prolonged contact or ingestion of the Foxglove plant can cause life threatening consequences. A word to the wise, you should look, but you better not touch!