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 were about 20cm high and brown with long stamens. 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. The photo below is of the cultivated red form which grows on my patio, but 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

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. The main image at top of page shows the downy nature. The photo below was taken within a few metres of the sea in Seaford Sussex in May.

two plantains alfriston rd seaford sep 2021 — Two plantains growing side by side – Alfriston Rd Seaford – Sep 2021

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

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