- Plantago major (broadleaf plaintain) is a perennial plant with basal rosette of leaves and a leafless flower spike. The flowers are small and inconspicuous on a 1- to 8-inch spiked stem. Its 2- to 7-inch leaves are lance-shaped to egg-shaped, with five to seven prominent parallel veins from the leaf base. Broadleaf plantains thrive in areas where the soil is compacted or moist. Its habitat includes vineyards, orchards, gardens, urban sites, landscaped areas, footpaths, roadsides and other disturbed locations. It blossoms April to September, setting five to 16 seeds per flower. Reproduction is by seed drop to form dense communities of the plant. Broadleaf plantain is used in traditional medicine systems for relief of insect bites, wounds, toothache and fevers.
- Plantago lanceolata (buckhorn plantain) grows as an annual, biennial or perennial broadleaf plant, often inhabiting agricultural sites or other areas where the soil is disturbed. It forms oblong, football-shaped basal rosette leaves that grow 3 to 10 inches in length and spiral around a short center stem. Its 2 1/2-foot stalk blooms April to September with a densely clustered, upright, egg-shaped head that is 1 to 3 inches across. Buckhorn plantain is more drought-tolerant than other plantain species and also tolerates soils contaminated with heavy metal residues.
- Plantago ovato (desert Indianwheat and blond psyllium) is an annual herb native to California deserts and other dry, sunny, open areas. It grows to 6 inches in height with sword-shaped leaves developing in opposite pairs from the central stem. Desert Indianwheat has a long taproot and secondary fibrous roots. Its flowers are short, rounded spikes and have four round ovate lobes with four stamens. The plant is covered with fuzzy white hair growing at right angels to stems and leaves. It is the source for psyllium seeds that are used in treatment for intestinal disorders.
- Plantago virginica (hoary plantain or paleseed plantain) is a winter annual with densely growing, 3/4-to 6-inch hairy elliptic leaves that are slightly toothed. Several 1 1/2- to 7-inch unbranched, leafless flowering stems emerge from each plant. It is found across the United States in lawns, turf grass and pastured areas. Hoary plantain grows a long taproot with several fibrous side roots. In home gardens, the plantain family of plants is controlled as a weed by regular mowing with a high blade. Mowing the flower stem off before it develops seeds prevents its rapid spread.
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