Plantaginaceae - plantain family

Gerald A. Mulligan (Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, retired) 1600 Apeldoorn Ave., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2C1V5 Click here to go to Weed Photos for this family Plantago lanceolata L., narrow-leaved plantain, plantain lancéolé Perennial, spreading by seeds; flowering stems usually less than 1 foot (3 dm.) high; flowers inconspicuous; throughout, except the mid-west; pastures, meadows, lawns, roadsides, and waste places; introduced from Europe. Plantago major L., broad-leaved plantain, plantain majeur Perennial, spreading by seeds, flowering stems usually less than 8 inches (20 cm.) high; flowers inconspicuous; abundant throughout; lawns, pastures, meadows, cultivated fields, and roadsides; introduced from Europe. Plantago media L., hoary plantain, plantain moyen Perennial, reproducing by seeds; flowering stems usually less than 6 inches (15 cm.) high; flowers inconspicuous; locally common, except in the mid-west; lawns, waste places, and roadsides; introduced from Europe. Plantago rugelii Dcne., Rugel's plantain, plantain de Rugel Perennial, spreading by seeds; flowering stems less than 8 inches (20 cm.) high; eastern; shorelines, roadsides, and waste places; native to North America. Leaves usually a paler green than broad-leaved plantain, and reddish towards the leaf bases. Click on a photo to view an enlarged image. Weed Name Photo Weed Name Photo narrow-leaved plantain, plantain lancéolé narrow-leaved plantain, plantain lancéolé narrow-leaved plantain, plantain lancéolé (drawings by Ilgvars Steins [a, plant; b & c, capsules; d, seed]) narrow-leaved plantain, plantain lancéolé (seedling, FF) narrow-leaved plantain, plantain lancéolé (NC) broad-leaved plantain, plantain majeur broad-leaved plantain, plantain majeur broad-leaved plantain, plantain majeur (drawings by Ilgvars Steins [a, plant; b, capsules; c, seed]) broad-leaved plantain, plantain majeur (seedling) broad-leaved plantain, plantain majeur (NC) hoary plantain, plantain moyen hoary plantain, plantain moyen (drawings by Ilgvars Steins [a, plant; b & c, capsules; d, seed]) Rugel's plantain, plantain de Rugel Rugel's plantain, plantain de Rugel (drawings by Ilgvars Steins [a, plant; b, capsules; c, seed])