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Plantaginaceae
Plantago

not marked as a favorite taxon *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.

Glossary (beta!)

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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image #1 of Plantago major© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Plantago major© Stan Gilliam | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Plantago major© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Plantago major© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Plantago major© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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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