''Digitalis chalcantha'' is a flowering evergreen shrub in the family

Plantaginaceae Plantaginaceae, the plantain family or veronica family, is a large, diverse family (biology), family of flowering plants in the order Lamiales that includes common flowers such as Antirrhinum, snapdragon and Digitalis, foxglove. It is unrelated ...

. It is native to the

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; ) or Canaries are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and the southernmost Autonomous communities of Spain, Autonomous Community of Spain. They are located in the northwest of Africa, with the closest point to the cont ...

, specifically

Gran Canaria Gran Canaria (, ; ), also Grand Canary Island, is the third-largest and second-most-populous island of the Canary Islands, a Spain, Spanish archipelago off the Atlantic coast of Northwest Africa. the island had a population of that constitut ...

Description

''Digitalis chalcantha'' is one of three foxglove species that are endemic to the Canary Islands, along with ''

Digitalis canariensis ''Digitalis canariensis'' (common name: Canary Island foxglove) is a member of the genus ''Digitalis''. Taxonomy This species is part of Section (botany), section ''Isoplexis'', which was temporarily accepted as an own genus. The Synonym (taxono ...

'' and '' Digitalis isabelliana''. These species are distinguished from other foxgloves by their tubular flowers, which have a large upper lip instead of a large lower lip. ''D. chalcantha'' is an upright-growing, evergreen shrub growing to high, with upright stems and long, lanceolate, slightly serrated dark green leaves. Inflorescence consists of long spikes of russet-orange flowers, with long hoods, a bi-lobed upper lip, and a three-lobed lower lip. The stamens are tipped with white anthers.

Habitat and distribution

''Digitalis chalcantha'' favours well-drained slopes and walls, between above sea level. Colonies have been found in the northern region of Gran Canaria. ''D.chalcantha'' is considered to be a critically endangered species.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q17727440 Endemic flora of the Canary Islands Critically endangered flora of Africa Plantaginaceae Flora of Gran Canaria