Identifying Plantains – Plantago

Plantain flowers tend to spring from a rosette of leaves at the base and have noticeable leaf ribs. Their flower spikes have no sepals or petals.

Ribwort plantain – Plantago lanceolata

The leaves of this plant are long, narrow and lance-shaped with parallel ribs or veins, about 10 to 15cm long. I found it in flower in May in short grass at Danebury Hill Fort in Hampshire. The flowers stems were about 20cm high and brown with long, pale stamens. I noticed that the flower heads were not as long but wider than other species I’ve seen.

Greater Plantain – Plantago major

This plantain has broader leaves than Ribwort but still has the prominent ribs. Unsurprisingly it is also known as Broadleaf plantain. The first photo I took is of the cultivated red form which grows on my patio, but you can see that the shape is the same.

greater plantain red form plantago major var rubrifolia seed head seaford nov 2021 — Greater plantain red form – *Plantago major* var rubrifolia seed head – Seaford – Nov 2021

greater plantain plantago major alfriston rd seaford sep 2021 — Greater plantain – *Plantago major* – Alfriston Rd Seaford – Sep 2021

broadleaf plantain Plantago major martello field seaford jun 2022 — Broadleaf plantain – *Plantago major* – Martello field Seaford – Jun 2022

Plantago major in flower

Broadleaf plantain plantago major seaford june 2022 — Broadleaf plantain – *Plantago major* – Seaford – June 2022

Broadleaf plantain plantago major detail seaford june 2022 — Flower of Broadleaf plantain – *Plantago major* – Seaford – June 2022

Broadleaf plantain plantago major flower seaford june 2022 — Flower of Broadleaf plantain – *Plantago major* – Seaford – June 2022

Bucks horn plantain – Plantago coronopus

This plantain is common where I live as it likes coastal locations. The leaves resemble antlers, hence the name. The flower heads are long and thin with primrose yellow stamens. The main image at top of page shows the downy nature. I took the photo below within a few metres of the sea in Seaford Sussex in May.

bucks-horn plantain Plantago coronopus martello field seaford june 2022 — Bucks-horn plantain rosette – *Plantago coronopus* – Martello field Seaford – June 2022

Buck’s-horn plantain flower – Plantago coronopus – Martello field Seaford – June 2022

Two plantains growing side by side – Alfriston Rd Seaford – Sep 2021

Hoary plantain – Plantago media

This plant has big blousy pale pink flowers. I was pleased to spot it growing in Cradle Valley Seaford in July.

The leaves are visibly downy or hairy.

hoary plantain leaves downy plantago media cradle valley seaford jul 2022 — Hoary plantain – *Plantago media* – Cradle Valley Seaford – Jul 2022

There are other varieties of Plantain which I haven’t yet seen including Sea plantain. Sea plantains, Plantago maritima like similar locations to Buck’s-horn, but have very narrow unbranched leaves and less hairs.

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