Plantains - Broad-leaved/Narrow-leaved

There are 2 types of plantains found in Ontario: broad-leaved and narrow-leaved.

Scientific Names: Broad-leaved plantain, Plantago major L., Narrow-leaved plantain, Plantago lanceolata L.,

Other Names

Broad-leaved Plantain	Narrow-leaved Plantain
Plantain majeur Common plantain Doorweed Dooryard plantain Plantain Whiteman’s-foot Grand plantain	Plantain lancéolé Buckhorn plantain English plantain Ribgrass Plantain à feuilles lancéolées Herbe à cinq coutures

Family: Plantain Family (Plantaginaceae)

General Description: Perennial, reproducing only by seed.

Habitat: Plantains are very common in Ontario occurring in cultivated land, pastures, meadows, waste places, roadsides, lawns and gardens.

Seedlings

Roots

Leaves

Broad-leaved Plantain	Narrow-leaved Plantain
Leaves all in a basal rosette Oval or elliptic 5- 30 cm (2- 12 in.) long The blade about as long as its thick green stalk Smooth or somewhat rough-hairy 3 to several prominent veins radiating from the leafstalk towards the tip Margins smooth or irregularly toothed	Leaves all in a basal rosette Long and narrow Very prominent, almost parallel veins or ribs which run the length of the leaf Sometimes the blade being strongly folded lengthwise along each rib

Flowers

Broad-leaved Plantain	Narrow-leaved Plantain
In compact spikes on erect, leafless stalks from among the basal leaves Each spike about the size and shape of a lead pencil but consisting of many, tiny, stalkless, greenish flowers giving it a coarsely granular texture Each flower 2- 3 mm (1/12- 1/8 in.) across 4 petals 4 sepals 2 stamens 1 pistil Egg-shaped seedpod developing beneath the withering flower Mature seedpod splitting apart with a circular facture around its middle and release 5- 16 dark brown or nearly black angular seeds, each about 1 mm (1/25 in.) long Flowers and sets seed from spring until late autumn	Very short, compact, somewhat oval spike of tiny flowers at the ends of long, thin, leafless stems At flowering, the spike surrounded by a halo of anthers at the ends of long thin stamens protruding from the flowers Seedpod contains only 1 or 2 seeds, each about 3 mm (1/8 in.) long Flowers from spring until late autumn

Broad-leaved Plantain

Narrow-leaved Plantain

In compact spikes on erect, leafless stalks from among the basal leaves
Each spike about the size and shape of a lead pencil but consisting of many, tiny, stalkless, greenish flowers giving it a coarsely granular texture
Each flower 2- 3 mm (1/12- 1/8 in.) across
4 petals
4 sepals
2 stamens
1 pistil
Egg-shaped seedpod developing beneath the withering flower
Mature seedpod splitting apart with a circular facture around its middle and release 5- 16 dark brown or nearly black angular seeds, each about 1 mm (1/25 in.) long
Flowers and sets seed from spring until late autumn

Very short, compact, somewhat oval spike of tiny flowers at the ends of long, thin, leafless stems
At flowering, the spike surrounded by a halo of anthers at the ends of long thin stamens protruding from the flowers
Seedpod contains only 1 or 2 seeds, each about 3 mm (1/8 in.) long
Flowers from spring until late autumn

Often Confused With
Blackseed Plantain (Blackseed plantain often is red in colour at the base of the petiole)

Click to enlarge.