Digitalis

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Digitalis \Dig`i*ta"lis\, n. [NL.: cf. F. digitale. So named
     (according to Linn[ae]us) from its finger-shaped corolla.]
     1. (Bot.) A genus of plants of the family
        {Schrophulariaceae}, including the foxglove.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. (Med.) The dried leaves of the purple foxglove ({Digitalis
        purpurea}), formerly used in heart disease, disturbance of
        the circulation, etc. Its use has been largely replaced by
        that of the pure active ingredient, {digitalin}. See
        {digitalin}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  digitalis
       n 1: a powerful cardiac stimulant obtained from foxglove [syn: {digitalis
            glycoside}, {digitalin}]
       2: any of several plants of the genus Digitalis [syn: {foxglove}]