English Plantain

WEEDS

GENUS/SPECIES

Plantago lanceolata

FAMILY

Plantaginaceae

SYNONYMS

Common: Narrowleaf Plantain, Buckhorn Plantain

DISTRIBUTION

Most of United States

Possibly lacking from some areas of the southcentral US, including S Texas
Introduced from Eurasia

Human Product Number - 54

Veterinary Product Number - 54

Comments

This is a common weed of lawns and roadsides. The flowers are borne on heads (well known to children as natural “bullets!”) whose supporting stalks protrude from the mass of swordlike leaves having distinct longitudinal veins. Blooming takes place throughout the growing season. The rather conspicuous stamens that ring the seed heads produce allergenic pollen that is sometimes collected by bumble bees that bounce from one seed head to another. However, this pollen becomes sufficiently airborne to result in allergy.