Plantago palmata Hook.f.

Plantaginaceae, G. Lehmann. Flora Zambesiaca 9:1. 1988

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, pilose or glabrescent herb with short, straight rhizome and numerous fleshy roots.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves in a basal rosette, spirally arranged; lamina 6–13× 5–11 cm., distinctly palmatilobed, cordate-ovate to subcircular in outline, (3) 5 (7) veined at the base, main nerves fairly distinct with secondary nerves, usually glabrous sometimes slightly pilose; lobes 2.3–6 × 1.6–6, 1.4–3 × 1–2 cm. narrowly to broadly ovate with the apex subobtuse to rounded.

Morphology Leaves Petiole

Petiole 5–31 cm. long, 2–4 mm. in diam., glabrous, sometimes somewhat pubescent, dilated at the base; slightly cauliculate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Scape

Scape (5) 6.5–27 cm. long, 0.5–1.0 mm. in diam., erect or ascending, usually 5-sulcate, rarely pubescent but usually densely pilose beneath the spike.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence spicate; spikes cylindric to globose, 1–11 (17) cm. long, 3–5 mm. in diam., usually rather dense (at first much longer and less dense in fruit).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts 2–2.5 (3.5) mm. long, slightly boat-shaped, ovate, obtuse, glabrous, midrib slightly keeled.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals c. 3 mm. long, almost equal, slightly keeled midrib, obtuse, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube c. 25 mm. long, glabrous, tube somewhat constricted at the mouth; lobes c. 15 mm. long, lanceolate to ovate, acute to subobtuse, usually spreading or reclined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens exserted; anthers yellowish or cream coloured.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary ellipsoid to globose; pistil scarcely exceeding the lobes.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule globose or nearly so, 2–4 mm. long, usually 2-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 2 mm. long, ellpisoid or ellipsoid-trigonous.

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

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, glabrescent or ± hairy herb with short, stout rhizome and numerous roots.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves borne in a rosette, spirally arranged; blade ovate or rounded, distinctly palmatilobed, 5-12 cm. long, 3-13 cm. wide, acute or rounded at the apex, cordate, hairy above and on the nerves beneath, later often glabrescent or glabrous, 3-7-nerved at the base; petiole mostly long, 4-29 cm. long, dilated at the base, sparsely to densely hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences spicate, the spikes mostly dense, but occasionally lax at the base, 1-17 cm.long; peduncles 5-30 cm. long, sulcate, glabrescent to hairy, usually densely hairy just beneath the spike; bracts broadly elliptic, 2.5-3.5 mm. long, 2 mm. wide, keeled with green.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals oblong, rounded elliptic or obovate, 2.5-3 mm. long, 1.5-2.5 mm. wide, obliquely keeled.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white or greenish-white, ± 3 mm. long; lobes ovate or oblong-ovate, 1.3-1.5 mm. long, 0.5-0.8 mm. wide, acute, keeled with green, sometimes tinged purple.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers yellowish or cream-coloured.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ellipsoidal or subglobose, 3-4 mm. long, 1.5- 2.8 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds opaque or slightly shining, brown, reddish-brown or olivaceous, ellipsoid, 2.5 mm. long, 1.5 mm. wide, the hilar side slightly concave or ± plane.

Figures

Fig. 2, p. 4.

Habitat

Openings and disturbed places in montane forest, particularly bamboo and Juniperus, often by streams or on boggy ground, less often in thicket or in plantations; 1170-3150(-? 3300) m.

Distribution

K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 T2 T7 U1 U2 U3 U4