[The Plantain Family in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Broadleaf Plantain, Common Plantain, Great Plantain, Nippleseed

Plantago major

Synonyms: Plantago asiatica, Plantago halophila, Plantago major ssp. intermedia, Plantago major var. asiatica, Plantago major var. intermedia, Plantago major var. major, Plantago major var. pachyphylla, Plantago major var. pilgeri, Plantago major var. scopulorum

The photo above shows a close-up of common plantain as seen along road #82 at Snowking Snowpark on the southern slopes of Mt. Adams.......October 14, 2005.

Characteristics:

Common or broadleaf plantain is a common weedy species of the west. It is fibrous-rooted with erect stems from 10-30 cm tall arise from a cluster of broadly ovate leaves, from 3-20 cm long and 2.5-12 cm wide. The leaf margins are entire or occasionally with a few teeth. The venation is prominent, with 3- several veins arising from the base.

The inflorescence of tiny 4-petaled flowers is from 5-20 cm long. The petals are papery and reflexed. The flowers have 4 stamens. The sepals are shorter than the ripened seed capsule.

Habitat:

Common plantain is found in waste places, road sides, and lawns.

Range:

Common plantain is originally an European native, but is found over much of North America today. In the Columbia River Gorge, it is found from Troutdale, OR east to about Bingen, WA, and is found between the elevations of 0'-1600'.

Broadleaf plantain as seen along the shoreline at Dalton Point in the western Columbia River Gorge........August 19, 2009.

Paul Slichter