Plantago lanceolata L.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean. Elevation range: 1590–1590 m a.s.l. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Bogotá DC, Cauca.

Habit

Herb.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, shrubland, native grassland, artificial - terrestrial.

Ghazanfar, S. A. & Edmondson, J. R (Eds). (2014) Flora of Iraq, Volume 5 Part 2: Lythraceae to Campanulaceae.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb, acaulous, to 60 cm, glabrous to pilose or hirsute-lanate

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate in a basal rosette, lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, 5–35 × 0.5–5 cm, usually petiolate, acute, margins entire to minutely dentate, 3–5-veined, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncles (15–)25–50(–100) cm, usually erect, sometimes arcuate-ascending until becoming erect, longer than leaves, tough, grooved, angled

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Spike 1–8 cm, globose to cylindrical, dense, not woolly; bract as long as or somewhat longer than calyx, broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, usually glabrous to glabrescent, sometimes hirsute or villous in the lower flowers of the spike, scarious except midrib, acute to long-acuminate or caudate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 3–4 mm, scarious except midrib, obtuse, glabrous except apex which is shortly ciliate, or villous at midrib, the two anterior sepals united to form a two-midribbed lobe, the two posterior sepals normal-Corolla glabrous, lobes ovate-lanceolate, acute or shortly acuminate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 2-seeded

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed ovoid, smooth.

Ecology

In silty and clay soils, wet margins of shallow seepages from irrigation channels and irrigated cultivations, shady orchards, marshy areas, alluvial plains of rivers, along roadsides and mountain slopes, and shady limestone slopes in forest (in northern Iraq); alt.: 40–1700 m

Phenology

Flowering and fruiting: Mar.–Aug.

Distribution

Frequent in the Mountain Regions and Upper Plains and Foothill Regions, less frequent in the Central Alluvial Plain Districts and in the Marsh District and in Basra. Europe to W Siberia and C Asia, Cyprus, Egypt, Sudan, Syria to Kuwait, Iran, India, naturalized in N America.

Note

Several infraspecific taxa were recognized in the original manuscript, but I have found it difficult to maintain these as the differences are small and there are many specimens which show characters that are intermediate between taxa. A very variable species with a wide distribution range.

Vernacular

RIKESHA,ZIBAD, IDHAN AS SAKHAILAH (recorded by Blakelock, loc.cit.).

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Adventicia en Colombia; Alt. 1590 m.; Andes.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba

Conservation

No Evaluada

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

llantén

Plantaginaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

An extremely variable glabrous, pubescent or more rarely densely pilose perennial herb from a ± erect, thick, short rhizome; stem silky hairy.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves borne in a rosette, spirally arranged; blade linear-lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate or spathulate, (2-)10-15(-45) cm. long, 0.7-3(-8) cm. wide, acute or acuminate at the apex, usually entire or somewhat toothed, 3-5(-7)-veined, mostly gradually narrowed into a petiole usually equalling the blade in length but occasionally much shorter or much longer.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence spicate, the spikes cylindric to globose, (0.3-)0.5-3.5(-10) cm. long; peduncles 5-120 cm. long, mostly furrowed and silky; bracts ovate-acuminate, 4-7 mm. long, dark blackish-green, with scarious points.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals rounded-ovate, 3-3.5 mm. long, glabrous or hairy on the margins or keels, the lower pair joined to form an obovate, ± bilobed 2-keeled organ.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla brownish-white, 3 mm. long; lobes narrowly ovate or ovate, 2-2.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers mostly white.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ellipsoid, 3-6 mm. long, 1-2-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds yellow-brown to dark brown, shining, oblong-ellipsoid, 2.5-3 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, dorsal side convex, ventral side concave; hilum dark.

Figures

Fig. 1/7-9, p. 3.

Habitat

Roadsides in wooded and open grassland; 1500-2400 m.

Distribution

K3 T3 ranging naturally throughout Europe and Asia, but now naturalized throughout most of the world.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds Protein Content

16.40% Entire seed/nut. Moisture content not stated (Barclay & Earle, 1974)

Use

A spring and summer fodder plant eaten by all animals; used as poultice for humans.