View source for Plantago

{{Treatment/ID
|accepted_name=Plantago
|accepted_authority=Linnaeus
|publications={{Treatment/Publication
|title=Sp. Pl.
|place=1: 112. 1753
|year=1753
}}
|common_names=Plantain
|basionyms=
|synonyms={{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Psyllium
|authority=Miller
|rank=genus
}}
|hierarchy=Plantaginaceae;Plantago
|hierarchy_nav=<div class="higher-taxa"><div class="higher-taxon"><small>family</small>[[Plantaginaceae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>genus</small>[[Plantago]]</div></div>
|etymology=Latin planta, sole or flat, and -ago, resemblance, alluding to leaf shape of P. major
|volume=Volume 17
|mention_page=page 5, 11, 12, 13, 280
|treatment_page=page 281
}}<!--

--><span class="statement" id="st-undefined" data-properties=""><b>Herbs,</b> annual or perennial, sometimes biennial [rarely suffrutescent or arborescent]; caudex usually present when perennial. <b>Stems</b> present or absent, if present, erect, glabrous or hairy. <b>Leaves</b> usually basal, usually alternate, (cauline and opposite in <i>P. afra</i>, <i>P. indica</i>, <i>P. sempervirens</i>); petiole absent or present; blade fleshy, leathery or not, margins entire or toothed. <b>Scapes</b> erect or ascending, rarely decumbent (<i>P. coronopus</i>), surpassing leaves, sometimes slightly so (<i>P. tweedyi</i>) or not (<i>P. major</i>). <b>Inflorescences</b> axillary, spikes or spiciform, dull, sometimes shiny (<i>P. canescens</i>, <i>P. lanceolata</i>, <i>P. media</i>); bracts present. <b>Pedicels</b> absent or present; bracteoles absent. <b>Flowers</b> bisexual; sepals 3 or 4, nearly distinct (abaxials connate in <i>P. lanceolata</i>), oblong, calyx radially, rarely bilaterally, symmetric, cuplike; corolla semitransparent, radially or weakly bilaterally symmetric, lateral lobes smaller, ± tubular to ± funnelform, tube base not spurred or gibbous, tube glabrous, rarely hairy (<i>P. coronopus</i>, <i>P. maritima</i>), lobes 4; stamens 2 or 4, free, equal, filaments glabrous; staminode 0; ovary 2-locular, placentation free-central, sometimes axile; stigma elongate. <b>Fruits</b> pyxides, lanceoloid, rarely ovoid (<i>P. macrocarpa</i>), dehiscence circumscissile (indehiscent or dehiscence not circumscissile in <i>P. macrocarpa</i>). <b>Seeds</b> (1 or)2–35, black or brown, sometimes dark red (<i>P. rhodosperma</i>) or yellowish brown (<i>P. virginica</i>), oblong, wings absent. × = 4, 5, 6.</span><!--

-->{{Treatment/Body
|distribution=North America;Mexico;Central America;South America;Europe;Asia;Africa;Pacific Islands (New Zealand);Australia.
|discussion=<p>Species ca. 210 (32 in the flora).</p><!--
--><p><i>Plantago lanceolata</i> and <i>P. major</i> have become established on all continents except Antarctica. A specimen of P. asiatica Linnaeus (New York City, US 295731) is ambiguous as to locality, and there is no evidence that it is established outside of cultivation in the flora area. Among North American <i>Plantago</i>, several native species have been introduced to states or provinces outside their native range.</p><!--
--><p>For species with bilaterally symmetric calyces, sepal lengths in the descriptions are for the adaxial sepals.</p>
|tables=
|references={{Treatment/Reference
|id=bassett1966a
|text=Bassett, I. J. 1966. Taxonomy of North American Plantago L. section Micropsyllium Decne. Canad. J. Bot. 44: 467–479.
}}{{Treatment/Reference
|id=bassett1967a
|text=Bassett, I. J. 1967. Taxonomy of Plantago L. in North America: Sections Holopsyllium Pilger, Palaeopsyllium Pilger, and Lamprosantha Decne. Canad. J. Bot. 45: 565–577.
}}{{Treatment/Reference
|id=bassett1973a
|text=Bassett, I. J. 1973. The Plantains of Canada. Ottawa.
}}{{Treatment/Reference
|id=kuiper1992a
|text=Kuiper, P. J. C. and M. Bos, eds. 1992. Plantago: A Multidisciplinary Study. Berlin.
}}{{Treatment/Reference
|id=rahn1974a
|text=Rahn, K. 1974. Plantago section Virginica: A taxonomic revision of a group of American plantains using experimental, taximetric and classical methods. Dansk Bot. Ark. 30: 1–180.
}}{{Treatment/Reference
|id=rahn1978a
|text=Rahn, K. 1978. Plantago ser. Gnaphaloides Rahn: A taxonomic revision. Bot. Tidsskr. 73: 137–154.
}}{{Treatment/Reference
|id=rahn1979a
|text=Rahn, K. 1979. Plantago ser. Ovatae. A taxonomic revision. Bot. Tidsskr. 74: 13–20.
}}{{Treatment/Reference
|id=ronsted2002a
|text=Ronsted, N. et al. 2002. Phylogenetic relationships within Plantago (Plantaginaceae): Evidence from nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid trnL-F sequence data. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 139: 323–338.
}}
}}<!--

--><div class="treatment-key">
==Key==
<div class="treatment-key-group">
  
{| class="wikitable fna-keytable"
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Leaves cauline.
|[[#key-0-2| > 2]]
|-id=key-0-2
|2
|Perennials, sometimes woody.
|[[Plantago sempervirens|Plantago sempervirens]]
|-id=key-0-2
|2
|Annuals.
|[[#key-0-3| > 3]]
|-id=key-0-3
|3
|Spikes glandular-hairy; all bracts similar.
|[[Plantago afra|Plantago afra]]
|-id=key-0-3
|3
|Spikes eglandular; proximal bracts strongly differing from distal bracts.
|[[Plantago indica|Plantago indica]]
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Leaves basal.
|[[#key-0-4| > 4]]
|-id=key-0-4
|4
|Leaf margins usually 1- or 2-pinnatifid; scapes decumbent, sometimes erect; corolla tubes hairy.
|[[Plantago coronopus|Plantago coronopus]]
|-id=key-0-4
|4
|Leaf margins entire, toothed, or lobed; scapes erect or ascending; corolla tubes glabrous, rarely hairy (P. maritima).
|[[#key-0-5| > 5]]
|-id=key-0-5
|5
|Annuals; leaf blades linear, narrowly lanceolate, narrowly elliptic, or almost filiform; roots taproots.
|[[#key-0-6| > 6]]
|-id=key-0-6
|6
|Seeds (3 or)4–25(–30); corollas radially symmetric, lobes 0.5–1 mm; leaf blade surfaces glabrous or hairy.
|[[#key-0-7| > 7]]
|-id=key-0-7
|7
|Seeds 10–25(–30), 0.5–0.8 mm.
|[[Plantago heterophylla|Plantago heterophylla]]
|-id=key-0-7
|7
|Seeds (3 or)4–9(–12), 0.8–2.5 mm.
|[[#key-0-8| > 8]]
|-id=key-0-8
|8
|Corolla lobes spreading or reflexed, not forming a beak; seeds (3 or)4–9(–12), 1.5–2.5 mm.
|[[Plantago elongata|Plantago elongata]]
|-id=key-0-8
|8
|Corolla lobes erect, forming a beak; seeds 4, 0.8–1.3 mm.
|[[Plantago pusilla|Plantago pusilla]]
|-id=key-0-6
|6
|Seeds 2; corollas bilaterally or radially symmetric, lobes 1.3–3.6 mm; leaf blade surfaces lanate, sericeous, or villous, rarely glabrate or glabrous.
|[[#key-0-9| > 9]]
|-id=key-0-9
|9
|Spikes: flowers in spirals; scapes without antrorse hairs; bracts ovate or elliptic.
|[[Plantago ovata|Plantago ovata]]
|-id=key-0-9
|9
|Spikes: flowers in whorls or pairs; scapes with some antrorse hairs; bracts ovate, triangular, or almost linear.
|[[#key-0-10| > 10]]
|-id=key-0-10
|10
|Corollas radially symmetric, lobe bases obtuse or slightly cordate.
|[[#key-0-11| > 11]]
|-id=key-0-11
|11
|Scapes with antrorse, long and short hairs; bract lengths 0.3–0.8 times sepals; corolla lobes 2–2.7 mm; California, Oregon.
|[[Plantago erecta|Plantago erecta]]
|-id=key-0-11
|11
|Scapes with patent, long and antrorse, short hairs; bract lengths 0.6–2.2 times sepals; corolla lobes 3–3.6 mm; New Mexico, Texas.
|[[Plantago helleri|Plantago helleri]]
|-id=key-0-10
|10
|Corollas bilaterally symmetric, lobe bases slightly to deeply cordate.
|[[#key-0-12| > 12]]
|-id=key-0-12
|12
|Leaf blades: adaxial surfaces glabrous or sparsely villous, margins entire, rarely toothed; stems 10–40 mm.
|[[#key-0-13| > 13]]
|-id=key-0-13
|13
|Bract lengths 2–12 times sepals; corolla lobes: adaxials 1.4–2.3 mm, laterals symmetric; flowering spring–fall.
|[[Plantago aristata|Plantago aristata]]
|-id=key-0-13
|13
|Bract lengths 0.4–0.8 times sepals; corolla lobes: adaxials 2.4–3 mm, laterals asymmetric; flowering summer.
|[[Plantago wrightiana|Plantago wrightiana]]
|-id=key-0-12
|12
|Leaf blades: adaxial surfaces sericeous or villous, rarely lanate, margins entire or toothed; stems 0–20 mm.
|[[#key-0-14| > 14]]
|-id=key-0-14
|14
|Bracts ovate, lengths 0.4–0.7 times sepals; leaves 1.5–4 mm wide; anther connectives slightly elongated, apices obtuse.
|[[Plantago argyrea|Plantago argyrea]]
|-id=key-0-14
|14
|Bracts triangular or ovate, lengths 0.6–2 times sepals; leaves 1–4 or 4–10 mm wide; anther connectives elongated to significantly elongated, apices acute.
|[[#key-0-15| > 15]]
|-id=key-0-15
|15
|Bract lengths 0.6–1.4 times sepals; corolla lobes 2.2–2.5 mm; leaves 4–10 mm wide, blade margins toothed, rarely entire; flowering spring.
|[[Plantago hookeriana|Plantago hookeriana]]
|-id=key-0-15
|15
|Bract lengths 1–2 times sepals; corolla lobes 1.6–2.1 mm; leaves 1–4 mm wide, blade margins entire, rarely toothed; flowering early summer.
|[[Plantago patagonica|Plantago patagonica]]
|-id=key-0-5
|5
|Perennials or annuals; leaf blades ovate, elliptic, or lanceolate, sometimes cordate-ovate, lanceolate-spatulate, linear, oblanceolate, obovate, or oval; roots taproots or fibrous.
|[[#key-0-16| > 16]]
|-id=key-0-16
|16
|Corolla lobes usually forming a beak, erect or patent; annuals or perennials (usually without caudex).
|[[#key-0-17| > 17]]
|-id=key-0-17
|17
|Annuals; roots taproots.
|[[#key-0-18| > 18]]
|-id=key-0-18
|18
|Seeds: adaxial faces flat; bracts triangular, 2–3.1 mm; sepals 1.8–2.8 mm.
|[[Plantago firma|Plantago firma]]
|-id=key-0-18
|18
|Seeds: adaxial faces concave; bracts ovate or triangular, 1.6–3.2 mm; sepals 1.5–3.6 mm.
|[[#key-0-19| > 19]]
|-id=key-0-19
|19
|Sepals 2.7–3.6 mm, apices acuminate; bracts 2.5–3.2 mm, narrowly triangular or triangular; seeds dark red.
|[[Plantago rhodosperma|Plantago rhodosperma]]
|-id=key-0-19
|19
|Sepals 1.5–2.4 mm, apices obtuse; bracts 1.6–2.4 mm, narrowly ovate or ovate; seeds brown or yellowish brown.
|[[Plantago virginica|Plantago virginica]]
|-id=key-0-17
|17
|Perennials; roots taproots or fibrous.
|[[#key-0-20| > 20]]
|-id=key-0-20
|20
|Adaxial surfaces of leaves: hairs floccose, slender, 4–6 × 0.01–0.03 mm.
|[[Plantago floccosa|Plantago floccosa]]
|-id=key-0-20
|20
|Adaxial surfaces of leaves: hairs not floccose, less than 2 mm long, more than 0.03+ mm wide.
|[[#key-0-21| > 21]]
|-id=key-0-21
|21
|Roots fibrous; sepals 2–2.5 mm.
|[[Plantago australis|Plantago australis]]
|-id=key-0-21
|21
|Roots taproots; sepals 2.6–3.1 mm.
|[[Plantago subnuda|Plantago subnuda]]
|-id=key-0-16
|16
|Corolla lobes not forming a beak, spreading or reflexed; perennials (sometimes with caudex), rarely annuals.
|[[#key-0-22| > 22]]
|-id=key-0-22
|22
|Fruits ovoid, indehiscent or dehiscence not circumscissile.
|[[Plantago macrocarpa|Plantago macrocarpa]]
|-id=key-0-22
|22
|Fruits lanceoloid, dehiscence circumscissile.
|[[#key-0-23| > 23]]
|-id=key-0-23
|23
|Leaf blades linear to lanceolate, veins not conspicuous; corolla tubes hairy.
|[[Plantago maritima|Plantago maritima]]
|-id=key-0-23
|23
|Leaf blades lanceolate, linear, oblanceolate, oval, cordate-ovate, lanceolate-spatulate, ovate, or elliptic, veins conspicuous; corolla tubes glabrous.
|[[#key-0-24| > 24]]
|-id=key-0-24
|24
|Spikes grayish, whitish, or yellowish, shiny, corolla lobes of neighboring flowers often overlapping.
|[[#key-0-25| > 25]]
|-id=key-0-25
|25
|Sepals: adaxial 2 connate; scapes groove-angled.
|[[Plantago lanceolata|Plantago lanceolata]]
|-id=key-0-25
|25
|Sepals: adaxial 2 nearly distinct; scapes not groove-angled.
|[[#key-0-26| > 26]]
|-id=key-0-26
|26
|Leaves ascending, 6–20 mm wide, blades linear to lanceolate or oblanceolate, surfaces hairy (hairs 1 mm) or glabrate; seeds 3–7, 1–1.8 mm.
|[[Plantago canescens|Plantago canescens]]
|-id=key-0-26
|26
|Leaves prostrate, sometimes ascending, 30–70 mm wide, blades elliptic to ovate, surfaces hairy (hairs 0.5 mm); seeds 2–4, 2 mm.
|[[Plantago media|Plantago media]]
|-id=key-0-24
|24
|Spikes brownish or greenish, dull, corolla lobes of neighboring flowers not overlapping.
|[[#key-0-27| > 27]]
|-id=key-0-27
|27
|Caudices absent.
|[[#key-0-28| > 28]]
|-id=key-0-28
|28
|Fruits (2–)4–5 mm, dehiscing at middle; seeds 5–35, 0.5–1 mm; bracts 0.5–1 mm.
|[[Plantago major|Plantago major]]
|-id=key-0-28
|28
|Fruits 4–6(–8) mm, dehiscing proximal to middle; seeds 4 or 5(–8), 1.5–2 mm; bracts 2 mm.
|[[Plantago rugelii|Plantago rugelii]]
|-id=key-0-27
|27
|Caudices well developed, conspicuous.
|[[#key-0-29| > 29]]
|-id=key-0-29
|29
|Spikes densely flowered, rachises not clearly visible between flowers; scapes slightly surpassing leaves.
|[[Plantago tweedyi|Plantago tweedyi]]
|-id=key-0-29
|29
|Spikes loosely flowered, rachises visible between flowers; scapes surpassing leaves.
|[[#key-0-30| > 30]]
|-id=key-0-30
|30
|Leaf blades: lateral veins branching from midvein distal to base.
|[[Plantago cordata|Plantago cordata]]
|-id=key-0-30
|30
|Leaf blades: lateral veins branching from base.
|[[#key-0-31| > 31]]
|-id=key-0-31
|31
|Caudices brown-woolly; c, w United States and Canada.
|[[Plantago eriopoda|Plantago eriopoda]]
|-id=key-0-31
|31
|Caudices glabrous; se United States.
|[[Plantago sparsiflora|Plantago sparsiflora]]
|}
</div></div><!--

-->{{#Taxon:
name=Plantago
|author=Alexey Shipunov
|authority=Linnaeus
|rank=genus
|parent rank=family
|synonyms=Psyllium
|basionyms=
|family=Plantaginaceae
|distribution=North America;Mexico;Central America;South America;Europe;Asia;Africa;Pacific Islands (New Zealand);Australia.
|reference=bassett1966a;bassett1967a;bassett1973a;kuiper1992a;rahn1974a;rahn1978a;rahn1979a;ronsted2002a
|publication title=Sp. Pl.
|publication year=1753
|special status=
|source xml=https://bitbucket.org/aafc-mbb/fna-data-curation/src/2e0870ddd59836b60bcf96646a41e87ea5a5943a/coarse_grained_fna_xml/V17/V17_678.xml
|genus=Plantago
}}<!--

-->[[Category:Treatment]][[Category:Plantaginaceae]]