plantago

  • All wild plants must be regarded as inedible when not accompanied by an appropriately qualified professional.
  • This page is about plantago often known as plantain, Plantago is the name of the plant genus. There is also another totally unrelated plant called plantain which is more like a banana.
  • There are some 200 varieties of plantago found growing wild all over the world. In the UK it is a common weed, frequently found growing in lawns, cracks in pavings, and low cut fields.
  • The psyllium husks that are often used in cleanse diets come from the seeds of a plantago called plantago ovata. Psyllium husks absorb water and add bulk.
  • In the UK the plantain variety plantago major would be a typical example of what most people would identify as a plantain. This plant is characterised by its low spreading, smooth, broad leaves, maybe 5 or 6 inches across, radiating in a rosette like manner from the centre. The leaves have parallel veins. The flowers are candle like structures.
  • The leaves are edible. It's best to pick the younger fresh leaves, the older leaves develop a more pronounced vein structure and are coarser.
  • The plantain variety, plantago virginica, has a rosette of narrower longer leaves. This is shown in Green Deane's video clip.