Sago Weed

Images ©:
©Harry Rose via flickr CC2.0, Harry Rose via flickr CC2.0, Harry Rose via flickr CC2.0

Plantago cunninghamii

Hairy erect plant to 10 cm tall. Lance-shaped three-veined leaves with toothed edges in a rosette at the base of the plant. Tiny inconspicuous four-petalled flowers on long spike. Persistent taproot.

Details
Flora Type
Herbs
Other Common Names
Clay Plantain
Biology

Annual. Grows in seasonally moist sites on heavy clay soils in grassland, woodland and saltbush plains,
Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Aug-Nov
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Lamiales
Family
Plantaginaceae
Genus
Plantago
Species
cunninghamii

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Long taproot that is edible and was an Aboriginal food. Food plant for caterpillars.

Interesting Facts
Similar Species

Similar to P. drummondii, P. turrifera and P. varia but a hand lens is needed. P. cunninghamii has smaller pear-shaped seeds with a distinct beak.
Native Status
Native