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Weed Gallery

Plantain Family

Plantaginaceae - Plantain family

Broadleaf Plantain (Common Plantain, Lanten) Plantago major (P. asiatica, P. halophila)

Long flower stalk 6"-18" tall drying to brown in hot weather.  Flowers very small.  Leaves are very, at bottom only.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April & May 2004

(Native of Texas)

Similar Species

Blackseed Plantain Plantago rugelii var. rugelii

Very wide  big leaves.  Very tall, thin spike.

(Native of Texas)

Virginia Plantain (Hoary Plantain, Paleseed Plantain) Plantago virginica

Long wide leaves that reach nearly to the top of spike.  Flower spike is long and thin.  Multiple long stems from center.

(Native of Texas, Edwards Plateau, and east)

Plantaginaceae - Plantain family

Heller's Plantain (Cedar Plantain) Plantago helleri

Flower spike 1"-3" tall on a thick fuzzy stem.  Leaves are long and fuzzy.  Plant grows to about 8" tall.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2004

(Native of Texas)

Similar Species

Desert Indianwheat (Blond Plantain) Plantago ovata

Short spike, often a ball.  Many spikes per plant.  Leaves are pointed and folded lengthwise.

(Native of Texas, Trans Pecos)

Wright's Plantain Plantago wrightiana

Flowers are similar to P. helleri but long stem and short spike.  Flower stalks circle leaves.  Long thin leaves.

(Native of Texas, Edwards Plateau, Trans Pecos, east Panhandle)

Plantaginaceae - Plantain family

Woolly Plantain (Woolly Indianwheat, Bristle Bract Plantain) Plantago patagonica (P. picta, P. purshii, P. spinlosa, P. wyomingensis)

This is similar to Heller's Plantain but the flowers are smaller with a lighter center and the little leaf spikes are much longer.  Flower spike 1-3" tall on a thin stem.  Leaves are long but not as fuzzy as Heller's.  Plant grows to 6"-8" tall.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April & May 2005

(Native of Texas)

Similar Species

Bracted Plantain (Slender Plantain, Simplespike Plantain) Plantago heterophylla

Very long spike with very long bracts.

(Native of Texas, Edwards Plateau, east)

Redseed Plantain (Redseed Indianwheet) Plantago rhodosperma

Long thin spikes circle leaves.  Short thin leaves.

(Native of Texas)

Plantaginaceae - Plantain family

Largebracted Plantain (Bottlebrush Indianwheat, Bracted Plantain, Buckthorn) Plantago aristata

Long spike, with tiny white flowers and very long bracts, can be up to 6" tall.    Thin leaves.  Plant grows to 8"-10" tall.

Photo taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2004

(Native of Texas)

Photos taken by Sonnia Hill in Van Zandt County, Texas, May 2003

(Native of Texas)

Other Species that may be found in Taylor County

Buck Horn Plantain Plantago coronopus

Wide or narrow leaves that split.  Flowers stand well above small spike.

Longleaf Plantain (Prairie Plantain, Slender Plantain, Dwarf Plantain, California Plantain) Plantago elongata (P. bigelovii)

Base of each flower is very large making the long spike bumpy.  Small thin leaves.

(native of Texas, most)

Hooker Plantain (Tallow-weed) Plantago hookeriana

Base of each flower is  very large making the long spike bumpy.  Small thin leaves.

(Native of Texas, Edwards Plateau, east, Trans Pecos, south)

Buckhorn Plantain (Ribwort, Ribgrass, Ripplegrass, English Plantain) Plantago lanceolata (P. altissima)

Spike of flowers is cone shaped with ring of white flowers starting at base.  Flower stem is very long.  Long wide leaves at base.

(Native of Texas, Edwards Plateau, east, Trans Pecos, south coast)

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