Ribwort Plantain
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Plantaginaceae Genus: Plantago Species: P. lanceolata
Binomial name
Plantago lanceolata L.

Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), also called English Plantain, is a plant of genus Plantago. It is a common weed of cultivated land.

The plant is a rosette-forming perennial herb, with leafless, silky, hairy flower stems (10-40cm). The basal leaves are lanceolate spreading or erect, scarcely-toothed with 3-5 strong parallel veins narrowed to short petiole. Grouping leaf stalk deeply furrowed, oblong grouping of many small flowers each with a pointed bract. Flowers 4 mm (calyx green, corolla brownish), 4 bent back lobes with brown midribs, long white stamens. Found in British Isles, scarce on acidic soils (pH < 4.5). An invasive weed in North America.

History

Considered to be an indicator of agriculture in pollen diagrams, P. lanceolata has been found in western Norway from the Early Neolithic onwards. Something that is considered to be an indicator of grazing in that area. ^[1]

References

1. ^ Hjelle, K.L., Hufthammer, A.K., and Bergsvik, K.A. 2006. Hesitant hunters: a review of the introduction of agriculture in western Norway. Environmental Archaeology 11 (2): 147-170

Ribwort flower spike

Ribwort

habit

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Plantago lanceolata

Wikiversity has bloom time data for Plantago lanceolata on the Bloom Clock

hsb:Husacy jazyčk

Donate to Wikimedia