Biennial or perennial herb growing as high as roughly 1.2 meters. It bears during the first year, a rosette of radical, rugose, somewhat downy leaves, 6-12 in. long, ovate to ovate-lanceolate with long winged petioles; from the centre of the leaf rosette arises, in the second year, a single, erect, flowering axis with sessile and sub-sessile leaves terminating in a one-sided raceme of flowers, 2-3 in. long, declined, tubular-campanulate, purple, yellow or white; seeds small, light and numerous.

Cardiotonic, diuretic, stimulant and tonic (leaf); promotes and stimulates the activity of all muscle tissues, improves blood flow to the kidneys and aids in removing any obstructions there thus improving urination, poisonous (can be fatal in high doses) and sedative.

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Digitoxin (a highly toxic and cumulative compound) and digitalin (both are insoluble in water); also digitalein which is soluble in water and lanatosides; acetic acid, acetyl-choline, benzoic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, choline, citric acid, digitoxin, ferulic acid, formic acid, gallic acid, gitoxin, gitalin, luteolin, p-coumaric acid (leaf); apigenin (flower)

Should be taken under close scrutiny because of its toxic properties; for mainly heart disease but also palpitations, maladies of the kidney, wounds, burns, asthma, edema, fever, mental disorders, neuralgia and abdominal tumors. Used as myocardial stimulant in congested heart failure, auricular flutter and rapid auricular fibrillation.

All parts of the plants are poisonous.

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.