PLANTAGO AMPLEXICAULIS

Family and Genus:- See- PLANTAGINACEAE/Subgen. PLANTAGO

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Plantago (L) Foot-sole-like, (reference to the way the leaves lie flat on

the ground).

Amplexicaule (Gr) Embracing the stem (the base of the leaf).

General description:- Annual.

Stem:-

1) Up to 5(-15) cm, sometimes branched from the base, with one or a few lax

rosettes.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate, 3-15 x 0·3-1·5 cm, linear-lanceolate, entire or remotely denticulate, 3-

to 5-veined, with sparse or dense long, patent hairs.

Flowers:-

1) Scapes, mostly exceeding the leaves, striate above, with usually sparse, long,

patent hairs or glabrescent, often purple.

2) Spikes, 1-2·5 cm, dense, ovoid.

3) Bracts, 5-6 mm, orbicular or wider than long, glabrous. scarious with a broad,

brownish midrib.

4) Sepals, unequal, almost free.

a) anterior, 3·5-4 mm, with a prominent greenish- or purplish-brown, strongly

hairy keel

b) posterior, 3-3·5 mm, obscurely keeled.

5) Corolla-tube, c. 4 mm, glabrous.

a) lobes, c. 3·5 mm, ovate, subacute.

6) Stamens, exserted c. 2 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 1) 5-6·5 mm.

2) Seeds, 2, 4-5 mm, cymbiform..

Key features:-

1) Seeds, 2, 4-5 mm. 2, cymbiform.

2) Leaves, usually alternate on a branched stem.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Coastal habitats with sand, gravel or conglomerate, rocky slopes with dry

open shrubby vegetation,fallow field, 0-600 m.

Distribution:- A few records in NE Peloponnisos. - Widespread, but very scattered

in the Mediterranean region and SW Asia, lacking in Anatolia. Currently know only

from the eastern side of Crete where it is sparsely spread, and one location central

south.

Flowering time:- Late March to May.

Photos by:- Christopher Cheiladakis