Copy permalink to share

*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, 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, K1, K3, Pa; > Plantago major L. var. major – F; > Plantago major L. – F

Links to other floras: < Plantago major - FNA17

Show in key(s)

Show parent genus

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

Your browser does not support SVGs

Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.

image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Stan Gilliam | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷

Feedback

See something wrong or missing on about Plantago major? Let us know here: (Please include your name and email if at all complicated so we can clarify if needed.) We greatly appreciate feedback, and will include updates from you in our next webapp update, which can take a few months.


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