PLANTAGO LANCEOLATA

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

Common Names:- Ribwort plantain

Homotypic Synonyms:- Plantago lanceolata ssp. lanuginosa, Plantago

lanceolata ssp. sphaerostachya.

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

the ground).

Lanceolata (L) Narrowed and tapered at both ends, lance-shaped.

General description:- Perennial with several rosettes; roots up to 0·75 mm thick.

Leaves:-

1) In rosettes, 2-30 x 0·5-3·5 cm, usually linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, entire or

remotely and shallowly dentate, 3- to 5-(to 7-) veined, subglabrous, appressed-

pubescent or villous, sessile or with a petiole up to as long as the lamina.

Flowers:-

1) Scapes, about twice as long as the leaves, 5-sulcate, more or less appressed-

hairy.

2) Spikes, 0·5-5(-8) cm, very dense.

3) Bracts, 2·5-3·5 mm, ovate, glabrous or shortly hairy.

4) Sepals, 2·5-3 mm;

a) anterior, connate for most of their length, but their midribs separate, often

shortly hairy, ciliate above.

5) Corolla-tube, brown, 2-3 mm, glabrous;

a) lobes, 1·5-2·5 mm, lanceolate to ovate, acute or acuminate, glabrous.

6) Stamens, exserted, 3-5 mm;

a) anthers yellowish.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 3-4 mm.

2) Seeds, 2, c. 2 mm, cymbiform.

Key features:-

1) Bracts and sepals, glabrous or very shortly hairy.

2) Scapes, usually strongly 5-sulcate.

3) Rosettes, usually several.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- In a wide variety of seasonally damp, somewhat ruderalised habitats. 0-

800 (-1900) m.

Distribution:- Widespread throughout the Mediterranean region. Widespread and

common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr-July, occasionally at other times.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton