Digitalis is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous perennials, shrubs, and biennials commonly called foxgloves. The scientific name means “finger-like.” The flowers are produced on a tall spike, are tubular, and vary in colour with species, from purple to pink, white, and yellow. This biennial plant is often grown as an ornamental plant due to its vivid flowers which also possess various marks and spottings. During the second year of the plant’s life, a long, leafy stem from 50 to 255 centimeters tall grows atop the roots of healthy plants. This genus is native to western and southwestern Europe, western and central Asia, Australasia and northwestern Africa. The term digitalis is also used for drug preparations that contain cardiac glycosides, particularly one called digoxin, extracted from various plants of this genus.