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PLANTAGINACEAE

PLANTAIN FAMILY

Lauramay T. Dempster

Annual, perennial herb, generally scapose
Leaves generally basal, simple, with longitudinal ribs; stipules 0
Inflorescence: spike, generally terminal, generally dense; flowers few–many, each subtended by 1 bract
Flower unisexual or bisexual, generally radial; calyx deeply 4-lobed, lobes generally overlapping, persistent, margin mostly scarious; corolla salverform or cylindric, lobes 4, spreading to erect, scarious, persistent, colorless; stamens 2–4, alternate corolla lobes, epipetalous; ovary superior, 2–4-chambered, ovules several per chamber, style 1, stigma long, hairy
Genera in family: 3 genera, ± 270 species: worldwide, especially temp; some weedy, some (especially P. afra , psyllium) cultivated for laxative
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated to include Callitrichaceae, and most non-parasitic CA genera of Scrophulariaceae (but not Mimulus, Scrophularia, Verbascum); = Veronicaceae sensu Olmstead et al. [Angiosperm Phylogeny Group 1998 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 85:531–553; Olmstead et al. 2001 Mol Phylog Evol 16:96–112]

PLANTAGO

PLANTAIN

Annual, perennial herb
Stem decumbent to erect
Flower generally bisexual; corolla radial, sometimes bilateral
Fruit: capsule, circumscissile ± at or below middle
Seeds 2–many, gelatinous when wet
Species in genus: ± 250 species: worldwide
Etymology: (Latin: sole of foot)

Introduced

P. coronopus L.

Annual or biennial from taproot, coarsely hairy
Leaf 4–25 cm, narrowly lanceolate, gradually tapered to base, pinnately lobed; lobes ascending, acute
Inflorescences generally 1–6, 5–50 cm including peduncle; spike 2–22 cm, narrowly cylindric, dense, nodding, becoming erect or often wavy in fruit; bract 1–2 X sepals, exserted, base round, tips long-acuminate
Flower: corolla lobes ± 1 mm, 3 generally spreading, 1 generally erect, ovate-lanceolate; stamens 4
Seeds generally 3, ± 1 mm
Ecology: Coastal bluffs, salt marshes, trampled places (where weedy), chaparral, grassy flats
Elevation: < 300 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, n Sierra Nevada Foothills (Amador Co.), Sacramento Valley, Central Coast, South Coast (Ventura Co.), s Channel Islands (Santa Catalina Island)
Distribution outside California: native to Europe

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