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Colleen Miller | Russell Best via NatureShare | Russell Best via NatureShare | Russell Best via NatureShare | Russell Best via NatureShare

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