Plantains
What are they?
Until recently, the plantains formed a relatively small family (the Plantaginaceae) of rather uninspiring little plants, but a recent review of closely-related plants increased the size of the family greatly as many more species were moved into the Plantaginaceae. Despite this, the plantains themselves remain a rather distinctive little group of plants, with their small, green or brownish flowers being packed tightly into either oval-shaped flower spikes, or elongated into upright 'rat's-tail' spikes. The leaves have more or less parallel veins that run from the base of the leaf towards the tip.
Where are they found?
Several of our native species are abundant throughout the region in all kinds of grassy habitats as well as on open ground such as footpaths, tracks and other well-trodden places, where their flattened rosettes can withstand trampling well. Introduced species are mostly uncommon to rare and only occasionally appear for a short time in disturbed ground or in human-influenced habitats.
Identification
Plantains have tiny flowers, compacted into either rounded or elongated flower spikes. Their flowers have papery sepals that remain after the small, green or brownish petals have fallen. Identification features to check include the shape of the flower spike and the shape of the leaves, as well as their position (all basal, or on upright stems). Note that the flowers can appear different according to the timing of their development. The female styles mature first and protrude as single, whitish filaments from the flower centres. As the styles wither, the male anthers (four per flower) protrude and are creamy or purplish in colour.
Plants with 'rat-tail' flower spikes in coastal grazing marshes might be worth comparing with mousetails, which differ in each of their flower spikes consisting of a single flower.
Greater Plantain Plantago major
Native and very common throughout the region. Thrives on well-trodden ground on tracks, paths, in lawns and playing fields. Flowers May to September. Leaves broadly rounded and all in a basal rosette. Flowers form long, wiry, 'rat's-tail' spikes. The subspecies intermedia occurs in wetland habitats, including the upper edges of saltmarshes and in coastal grazing marshes; it differs in being distinctly hairy on its leaves (especially the petioles) and having 3-5 (not 5-9) veins.
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Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata
Native and common to abundant throughout the region in a wide range of grassy habitats. Flowers April to August. Leaves lance-shaped with strongly impressed parallel veins and all in a basal rosette. Flowers form long-oval heads with creamy anthers.
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Hoary Plantain Plantago media
Native and quite widespread in a wide range of grassy habitats on chalky soils. Often considered an indicator of good-quality grasslands. Flowers July to August. Leaves broadly ovate with strongly impressed parallel veins, a covering of white hairs and all in a basal rosette. Flowers form elongate heads, the stamens with pale purple filaments and creamy or purple anthers, giving the whole flower spike a pink tinge.
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Buck's-horn Plantain Plantago coronopus
Native and very common on sandy, acid soils and in coastal dunes and saltmarshes. More recently has become common as a plant of salt-laden roadsides. Flowers May to July. Leaves deeply lobed into narrow segments and all in a basal rosette. Flowers form elongate spikes, the stamens with creamy to pinkish anthers.
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Sea Plantain Plantago maritima
Native in coastal saltmarshes and rarely on salted roadsides inland. Flowers June to August. Leaves long and grass-like but fleshy and forming a 'U' shape in cross-section; all in a basal rosette. Flowers form elongate spikes with yellow stamens.
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Hare's-foot Plantain Plantago lagopus
Introduced from southern Europe and recorded just once in Suffolk in 1899. Flowers July to August. Leaves narrowly ovate and most like those of our native Ribwort Plantain, but covered in whitish hairs. Flower spikes softly downy with dense, white hairs.
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Branched Plantain Plantago arenaria
Introduced from southern Europe with a handful of records probably originating from imported grain impurities but only a casual. Flowers July to August. Leaves linear on upright, branched stems. Flower spikes oval with the whole plant covered in downy, whitish hairs and a few glandular hairs above.
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Glandular Plantain Plantago afra
Introduced from southern Europe and recorded as an imported grain impurity from Newmarket in 1990. Flowers July to August. Leaves linear on upright stems that are unbranched except where the divide at the base. Flower spikes oval with the whole plant lightly downy, whitish hairs and with many glandular hairs.
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