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Plantago major
  • Common Plantain

a perennial member of the Plantago genus in the family Plantaginaceae.

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Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Plantago major has 0 edible uses listed
Plantago major has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Young leaves - raw or cooked[1][2][3][4][5][6]. They are rather bitter and tedious to prepare because the fibrous strands need to be removed before use[7]. It is best not to use the leaf-stalk since this is even more fibrous than the leaf[6]. Many people blanch the leaves in boiling water before using them in salads in order to make them more tender[6]. A Chinese form has more palatable leaves - it contains about 2.7% protein, 0.4% fat, 2.2% ash[8].

Seed - raw or cooked[5][9]. Very tedious to harvest[9]. The seed can be ground into a meal and mixed with flour[6]. It is very rich in vitamin B1[8]. The whole seeds can be boiled and used like sago[10]. The dried leaves make an acceptable tea[6].

Root[6]. No further details.

Leaves

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Unknown part

Tea

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Plantago major.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Common plantain is a safe and effective treatment for bleeding, it quickly staunches blood flow and encourages the repair of damaged tissue[11].

The leaves are astringent, demulcent, deobstruent, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic and refrigerant[12][13][7][14][15][16][9][17]. Internally, they are used in the treatment of a wide range of complaints including diarrhoea, gastritis, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, haemorrhage, haemorrhoids, cystitis, bronchitis, catarrh, sinusitis, asthma and hay fever[17][11]. They are used externally in treating skin inflammations, malignant ulcers, cuts, stings etc[12]. The heated leaves are used as a wet dressing for wounds, swellings etc[18][19]. The root is a remedy for the bite of rattlesnakes, it is used in equal portions with Marrubium vulgare[20]. The seeds are used in the treatment of parasitic worms[18]. Plantain seeds contain up to 30% mucilage which swells up in the gut, acting as a bulk laxative and soothing irritated membranes[17]. Sometimes the seed husks are used without the seeds[17].

A distilled water made from the plant makes an excellent eye lotion[13].

Unknown part

Antidote
Astringent
Demulcent
Deobstruent
Depurative
Diuretic
Expectorant
Haemostatic
Laxative
Ophthalmic
Poultice
Refrigerant
Vermifuge

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer. A sowing can be made outdoors in situ in mid to late spring if you have enough seeds.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Plantago major. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in any moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[21].

Although this species is a common garden weed, some named forms have been selected for their ornamental value[22].

An important food plant for the caterpillars of many species of butterflies[23].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Plantago major. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Plantago major.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Plantago major
Genus
Plantago
Family
Plantaginaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Medicinal uses
[11][12][13][7][14][15][16][9][17][18][19][20]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[24][21]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Strong wind
  • Maritime exposure
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
?
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
0.12 x 0.1 meters
Fertility
self fertile
Pollinators
Wind
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

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"image:Illustration Plantago major0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Illustration Plantago major0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Illustration Plantago major0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Illustration Plantago major0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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References

  1. ? 1.01.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.1 Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins ISBN 0-00-219060-5 (1974-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.1 Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2 ()
  4. ? 4.04.1 Muhlberg. H. Complete Guide to Water Plants. E. P. Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7158-0789-7 (1982-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.2 Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (1982-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.46.56.6 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.2 Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre (1977-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.4 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
  10. ? 10.010.1 Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. ISBN 0-207-14383-8 (1989-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.111.2 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.112.2 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  13. ? 13.013.113.2 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
  14. ? 14.014.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
  15. ? 15.015.1 ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X ()
  16. ? 16.016.1 Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. ()
  17. ? 17.017.117.217.317.4 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
  18. ? 18.018.118.2 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
  19. ? 19.019.1 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
  20. ? 20.020.1 Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. ISBN 0-8160-2624-6 (1993-00-00)
  21. ? 21.021.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  22. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)
  23. ? Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan ISBN 0-330-26642-x (1982-00-00)
  24. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

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"image:Illustration Plantago major0.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Plantago_major&oldid=79477"
Facts about "Plantago major"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyPlantaginaceae +
Belongs to genusPlantago +
Has binomial namePlantago major +
Has common nameCommon Plantain +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partLeaves +, Root +, Seed + and Unknown part +
Has edible useUnknown use + and Tea +
Has environmental toleranceMaritime exposure + and High wind +
Has fertility typeSelf fertile + and Wind +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone5 +
Has imageIllustration Plantago major0.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has mature height0.12 +
Has mature width0.1 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAntidote +, Astringent +, Demulcent +, Deobstruent +, Depurative +, Diuretic +, Expectorant +, Haemostatic +, Laxative +, Ophthalmic +, Poultice +, Refrigerant + and Vermifuge +
Has primary imageIllustration Plantago major0.jpg +
Has search nameplantago major + and common plantain +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
Has taxonomy namePlantago major +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
Tolerates maritime exposureYes +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
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