Plantago lanceolata L.

English Plantain; Rib Grass; Buckhorn Plantain

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

English Plantain is an introduced perennial in the Plantain family (Plantaginaceae). It occurs throughout Alabama. White Man’s Foot occurs on roadsides, in lawns, in fields, and along trails and paths. English Plantain is a perennial from a crown with numerous fibrous roots. The leaves form a basal rosette. Leaves are linear elliptic to lanceolate in outline, entire, and glabrous or slightly pubescent. There are 3-5 parallel veins that run the length of the leaf. Flowers are produced in a dense spike at the apex of a scape (leafless flowering stem). The scape is solid and 5-angled in cross section. Each flower has four membranous sepals with a green midrib. There are four small papery petals. The stamens are large and well exserted. They are the most conspicuous part of the inflorescence. The fruit is a two seeded capsule. English Plantain plants vary greatly in size. Plants in hard packed dry soil may have only a few leaves that are only a few inches in length. Plants growing on richer soils may have large rosettes of leaves over 10 inches in length. They are often one of the most common and conspicuous elements of the roadside flora. English Plantain is used in herbal medicine, and is considered a noxious weed in some states.--A. Diamond

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Not Native FAC (NWPL)

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