Plantago major

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Plantago major
Grote weegbree bloeiwijze Plantago major subsp. major.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Plantago
Species:
P. major
Binomial name
Plantago major
L.

Plantago major, the broadleaf plantain, white man's footprint, waybread, or greater plantain, is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. The plant is native to Eurasia. The young, tender leaves can be eaten raw, and the older, stringier leaves can be boiled in stews and eaten.

Contents

Description

Broadleaf plantain spike Broadleaf Plantain Spike.jpg
Broadleaf plantain spike

Plantago major is a herbaceous, perennial plant with a rosette of leaves 15–30 centimetres (6–12 inches), exceptionally 70 centimetres (28 inches), [2] in diameter. [3] [4] Each leaf is oval-shaped, 5–20 cm (2–8 in) long [5] and 4–9 cm (1+1⁄2–3+1⁄2 in) broad, rarely up to 30 cm (12 in) long and 17 cm (7 in) broad, with an acute apex, a smooth margin, and a distinct petiole almost as long as the leaf itself. There are five to nine conspicuous veins over the length of the leaf. [6] The flowers are small, greenish-brown with purple stamens, produced in a dense spike 5–15 cm (2–6 in) long on top of a stem 13–15 cm (5–6 in) tall and rarely to 70 cm (28 in) tall. [3] [4]

Plantain is wind-pollinated and propagates primarily by seeds, which are held on the long, narrow spikes which rise well above the foliage. [4] [7] Each plant can produce up to 20,000 seeds, which are very small and oval-shaped, with a bitter taste. [8]

Taxonomy

There are three subspecies: [9]

Broadleaf plantain is not closely related to the fruit also known as plantain, which is a kind of banana.

Distribution and habitat

The plant is native to most of Europe and northern and central Asia, [10] [9] [3] but has widely naturalised elsewhere in the world. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] Plantago major grows in lawns and fields, along roadsides, and in other areas that have been disturbed by humans. It does particularly well in compacted or disturbed soils.

Plantago major is believed to be one of the first plants to reach North America after European colonisation. Reportedly brought to the Americas by Puritan colonizers, plantain was known among some Native American peoples by the common name "white man's footprint", because it thrived in the disturbed and damaged ecosystems surrounding European settlements. [15]

The ability of plantain to survive frequent trampling and colonize compacted soils makes it important for soil rehabilitation. Its roots break up hardpan surfaces, while simultaneously holding together the soil to prevent erosion. [16] The seeds of plantain are a common contaminant in cereal grain and other crop seeds. As a result, it now has a worldwide distribution. [11]

Uses

The mature plant contains pliable and tough fibres that can be used in survival situations to make small cords, fishing line, sutures, or braiding. [17] Some cultivars are planted as ornamentals in gardens, including 'Rubrifolia' with purple leaves, and 'Variegata' with variegated leaves. [18] The leaves are edible as a salad green when young and tender, but they quickly become tough and fibrous as they get older. The older leaves can be cooked in stews. [19] The seeds are so small that they are tedious to gather, but they can be ground into a flour substitute or extender. [20]

Plantain contains phytochemicals including allantoin, aucubin, ursolic acid, flavonoids, and asperuloside. [21] [22] [23] Plantain extract has been studied for its potential health effects. [8] Plantain leaves were used commonly in folk medicine for skin poultices on wounds, sores, or insect stings. [24] [25] The root was used for fever and respiratory infections. [21] [26]

References

  1. ↑ Maiz-Tome, L. (2016). "Plantago major". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T168960A1257878. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T168960A1257878.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors), 2008. Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 11(1)- Medicinal plants 1. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen, Netherlands / Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands / CTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. 791 pp.
  3. 1 2 3 Flora of Pakistan: Plantago major
  4. 1 2 3 Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. ISBN   0-340-40170-2 [ page needed ]
  5. ↑ Elias, Thomas S.; Dykeman, Peter A. (2009) [1982]. Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods. New York: Sterling. p. 79. ISBN   978-1-4027-6715-9. OCLC   244766414.
  6. ↑ Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012. Webb's An Irish Flora. Cork University Press. ISBN   978-185918-4783
  7. ↑ Sauer, Leslie Jones (1998). The Once and Future Forest. Island Press. p. 49. ISBN   978-1-55963-553-0.[ verification needed ]
  8. 1 2 Samuelsen, Anne Berit (July 2000). "The traditional uses, chemical constituents and biological activities of Plantago major L. A review". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 77 (1–2): 1–21. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(00)00212-9. ISSN   0378-8741. PMC   7142308 . PMID   10904143.
  9. 1 2 Flora Europaea: Plantago major
  10. 1 2 Natural History Museum: Plantago major
  11. 1 2 "Plantago major". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  12. ↑ As a result, Plantago major has many common names. In addition to "broadleaf plantain" and "greater plantain", other common names include: common plantain, broad-leaved plantain, cart track plant, dooryard plantain, greater plantago, healing blade, hen plant, lambs foot, roadweed, roundleaf plantain, snakeroot, waybread, wayside plantain, and white man's foot prints. -- Britton, Nathaniel Lord; Addison Brown (1913). An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Volume 3 (second ed.). Dover Publications, inc. p. 245.
  13. ↑ Joint Nature Conservation Committee: Greater Plantain Plantago major Linnaeus
  14. ↑ Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland Database Archived 2007-08-08 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ↑ Duke, James (2001). Handbook of Edible Weeds. CRC Press. p. 150. ISBN   9780849329463.
  16. ↑ Tilford, Gregory L.; Gladstar, Rosemary (1998). From Earth to Herbalist: An Earth-Conscious Guide to Medicinal Plants. Mountain Press. p. 163. ISBN   9780878423729.
  17. ↑ Tilford, Gregory L. (1997). Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West. Mountain Press. p. 112. ISBN   9780878423590.
  18. ↑ Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. ISBN   0-333-47494-5
  19. ↑ Scott, Timothy Lee; Buhner, Steven Harrod (2010). Invasive Plant Medicine: The Ecological Benefits and Healing Abilities of Invasives. Inner Traditions / Bear & Co. p. 253. ISBN   9781594773051.
  20. ↑ Vizgirdas, Ray S.; Rey-Vizgirdas, Edna (2005). Wild Plants Of The Sierra Nevada. University of Nevada Press. pp. 148–149. ISBN   9780874175356.
  21. 1 2 "Plantago". Drugs.com. 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  22. ↑ Duke, James A. (2001). "Plantago major". Handbook of Phytochemical Constituents of GRAS Herbs and Other Economic Plants. CRC Press. p. 471. ISBN   9780849338656.
  23. ↑ Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (2005). A Guide to Medicinal Plants in North Africa. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). p. 190. ISBN   9782831708935.
  24. ↑ Duke, James (2001). Handbook of Edible Weeds. CRC Press. p. 151. ISBN   9780849329463.
  25. ↑ Green, James (2000). The Herbal Medicine Maker's Handbook: A Home Manual. Chelsea Green Publishing. pp. 314–315. ISBN   9780895949905.
  26. ↑ Foster, Steven; Hobbs, Christopher (2002). A Field Guide to Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 224. ISBN   9780395838068.
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