A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

digitaliformis,-e (adj.B): “like campanulate, but longer and irregular, as the corolla of Digitalis” (Lindley); “shaped like a finger, as the corolla of the Foxglove” [= Digitalis] (Jackson); (in fungi) “digitate; fingerlike” (S&D); may be seen in some contexts as a synonym of digitiformis,-e (adj.B), finger-shaped; see campanulate;

NOTE: digitaliformis refers to a tubular, i.e. hollow structure, such as a funnel or bell (the tubular flowers of Digitalis, the hollow flower of Campanula. Digitiformis more often refers to (flat) lobes (appendages), as in leaves, or solid, finger-like structure.

Carex digitalis, ‘of a finger; from the slender spikes’ (Fernald 1950).

- cupula pendula digitaliforme basi obliquo – gibbiuscula (S&A), with the cupule pendulous, digitaliform [i.e. long- and irregularly campanulate, resembling the corolla of Digitalis] at the base obliquely rather gibbous.

- [Coprinus domesticus; fungi] pileus initio digitaliformis (S&D), the pileus from the beginning digitaliform [longly and irregularly campanulate].

- [Peziza Digitalis; fungi] cupula semunciam fere alta in majoribus, 3 — 4 lin. lata, margine erecto (rarius demum subpatente) exacte digitaliformis; basi obliqua, hinc plus minus ventricosa (S&D), cupule almost 1/2 inch tall, in the larger, 3-4 lines wide, with an erect margin (more rarely in the end almost spreading) precisely digitaliform; with an oblique base, from this place ventricose.

- [Peziza Digitalis; fungi] P. stipitata tenuis submembranacea, cupula pendula digitaliformi basi obliquo - gibbiuscula (S&A), Peziza on a stipe, thin, almost membranaceous, with the cupule pendulous digitaliform, at the base obliquely almost gibbous [i.e. swollen on one side]. NOTE: “Stipes tenuiusculus, in cupulam transfluens,” the stipe rather thin, running through into the cupula.

Digitalis,-is (s.f.III), Foxglove: > L. “digitalis, of or belonging to the finger, as the fingers of a glove, the tubular corollas early suggesting the old English name, Folks’ (or Fairies’) Glove or Thimble” (Fernald 1950); “the flower is like the finger of a glove” (Stearn 1996); the German name Fingerhut, Finger-cap = ‘thimble.’.

NOTE: the digitabulum,-i (s.n.II), abl. sg. digitabulo, “a glove worn in gathering olives” (Lewis & Short).

NOTE: cupula,-ae (s.f.I), q.v., the ascoma of a discomycete (WIII); see ascoma,-atis (s.n.III).

NOTE: digitaliformis seems to relate more to the genus Digitalis, than to digitalis,-e (adj.B), which refers to the finger or toe. The element ‘digital-‘ before -formis is an adjective (not a noun) form, not usually used in compounds. Hence it is probable that ‘digital-‘ is a noun in the sense that it is the generic name, Digitalis.

Penstemon digitalis, the Foxglove Penstemon