*Plantago major Linnaeus. Common name: Common Plantain, White-Man's-Foot. Phenology: May-Nov. Habitat: Lawns, roadsides, disturbed areas. Distribution: Native of Europe, possibly also native in ne. North America, possibly as far south as the northern part of our area.
Origin/Endemic status: Europe
Taxonomy Comments: Very variable, and possibly worthy of some of the infraspecific subdivisions suggested by various authors. The Coastal Plain populations associated with the Chesapeake Bay in VA may represent a native, estuarine genotype.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Fl6, GrPl, GW2, Il, K4, Mi, Mo3, NcTx, NY, RAB, S, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, WV, Rosatti (1984); = Plantago major L. ssp. major — G; = Plantago major L. var. major — Tat; < Plantago major L. — C, FNA17, Pa; > Plantago major L. var. major — F; > Plantago major L. — F; Plantago major L. Basionym: Plantago major L. 1753
Links to other floras: < Plantago major - FNA17
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Midwest: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Stan Gilliam | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial (sometimes annual) from a basal rosette, found in fields, lawns, roadsides and other open or partially open, disturbed areas. Native of Europe, possibly also native in ne. North America.
Stems: Stems 1-several leafless scapes arising from a 5- to 12-in.-wide basal rosette; smooth to finely hairy.
Leaves: Leaves basal, with petioles that are green and rough-hairy at least at the base, oval, 2-5 in. long, with 5 parallel veins, smooth or sparsely hairy above, sometimes hairy on veins beneath.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers densely packed in a narrowly cylindric spike occupying the upper 2/3 of each scape; greenish-white; tiny. Each flower consisting of a papery corolla with 4 spreading, lance-shaped lobes; 4 keeled sepals; a pistil with a single white style; 4 stamens and a green bract.
Fruits:
Comments:
Height: 2-20 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial (sometimes annual) from a basal rosette, found in fields, lawns, roadsides and other open or partially open, disturbed areas. Native of Europe, possibly also native in ne. North America.
stems: Stems 1-several leafless scapes arising from a 5- to 12-in.-wide basal rosette; smooth to finely hairy.
leaves: Leaves basal, with petioles that are green and rough-hairy at least at the base, oval, 2-5 in. long, with 5 parallel veins, smooth or sparsely hairy above, sometimes hairy on veins beneath.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers densely packed in a narrowly cylindric spike occupying the upper 2/3 of each scape; greenish-white; tiny. Each flower consisting of a papery corolla with 4 spreading, lance-shaped lobes; 4 keeled sepals; a pistil with a single white style; 4 stamens and a green bract.
fruits:
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: Europe & Asia
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