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hijuju

By Hijuju

Essex, United Kingdom Gb

While watching the Chelsea Flower Show last night , my daughter asked me why is a Foxglove called a Foxglove , i found that i couldnt answer the question.She thought it was a strange name for a flower.It would be interesting to see what answers everyone comes out with




Answers

 

I found this on Bing.com I love the fairy story.
There have been many suggestions for the derivation of the name "foxglove". According to the 19th century book, English Botany, Or, Coloured Figures of British Plants:

Dr. Prior, whose authority is great in the origin of popular names, says "It seems probably that the name was in the first place, foxes' glew, or music, in reference to the favourite instrument of an earlier time, a ring of bells hung on an arched support, the tintinnabulum"... we cannot quite agree with Dr. Prior for it seems quite probable that the shape of the flowers suggested the idea of a glove, and that associated with the name of the botanist Fuchs, who first gave it a botanical name, may have been easily corrupted into foxglove. It happens, moreover, the name foxglove is a very ancient one and exists in a list of plants as old as the time of Edward III. The "folks" of our ancestors were the fairies and nothing is more likely than that the pretty coloured bells of the plant would be designated "folksgloves," afterwards, "foxglove." In Wales it is declared to be a favourite lurking-place of the fairies, who are said to occasion a snapping sound when children, holding one end of the digitalis bell, suddenly strike the other on the hand to hear the clap of fairy thunder, with which the indignant fairy makes her escape from her injured retreat. In south of Scotland it is called "bloody fingers" more northward, "deadman's bells" whilst in Wales it is known as "fairy-folks-fingers" or "lambs-tongue-leaves."[

27 May, 2010

 

Can;t imagine what you've started Hijuju lol, but here goes my offer...Being a Northern lass I favour the northern legend that naughty fairies gave these blossoms to the fox so he would put them on his toes to soften his tread when prowling the roosts!

27 May, 2010

 

That is lovely Dido.

27 May, 2010

 

interesting Scotsgran--- common names for wild plants are different up and down the country and fascinating :o)

27 May, 2010

 

Thanks for info.
The mind can play peculiar tricks , i had visions of furry little foxes last night of running around wearing gloves.
When you think of it there are some unusual names for flowers

27 May, 2010

 

its often a visual thing isn't it--- grannys bonnet-----shepherds purse for example but how about 'love-in-a-mist?

27 May, 2010

 

There are some amazing names for native wild plants, so evocative of past times.

27 May, 2010

 

true Dorjac

27 May, 2010

 

The fairy-story I remember is that all the creatures of the forest were invited to meet the Fairy Queen, so had to look their best. The fox was wearing his best 'bib and tucker' but needed gloves to complete his smart looks so ..... popped on a couple of bell-shaped flowers - hence 'foxgloves.' It's true! I know it is! ;o)

28 May, 2010

 

I like that Nariz :o)

28 May, 2010

How do I say thanks?

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