Narrow Plantain
Plantago gaudichaudii
Upright slender plant to 30 cm tall. Leaves form a rosette, soft, strap-like, up to 30 cm long and 7 mm wide, edged with a few soft teeth. Dense upright brownish-green flower spikes about 10 cm long in upright dense compact spikes. Stout taproot.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Flora Type | Herbs |
| Distinctive Features | Leaves three veined, with the middle vein very prominent. The leaves have fine brown hairs at their base. |
| Biology | Perennial with a thick fleshy taproot & fine roots. Can resprout after fire. Tolerates grazing. |
| Native Status | Native |
| Flowering Time | Sep-Apr |
| Taxonomy | |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants) |
| Class | Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants) |
| Order | Lamiales |
| Family | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus | Plantago |
| Species | gaudichaudii |
Long taproot that is edible and was an Aboriginal food. Food plant for caterpillars. Recruits infrequently but high survival rate when germination occurs.
| Interesting Facts | |
|---|---|
| Similar Species | Almost identical to P. hispidula but has longer narrower leaves and has few if any hairs on the stem. |
| Native Status | Native |