Plantain (Narrow-leaved)

Description:

Plantain is a low dwelling plant with slender pointed ribbed leaves and a flowering stem, with a mostly bald head except for a light ring of tiny flowers on the top and can be found almost everywhere in New Zealand as it is most of the world, though is thought to be indigenous to Eurasia. It is a rosette-forming perennial herb, with leafless, silky, hairy flower stems (10–40 cm). The basal leaves are lanceolate spreading or erect, scarcely-toothed with 3-5 strong parallel veins narrowed to short petiole. Grouping leaf stalk deeply furrowed, ending in an oblong inflorescence of many small flowers each with a pointed bract. Each flower can produce up to two seeds. Flowers 4 mm. (calyx green, corolla brownish), 4 bent back lobes with brown midribs, long white stamens

Habitat:

This is a very common perennial weed found in many lawns and pastures, and often in waste places as well.

Notes:

Common names: Narrow-leaved plantain, Ribwort plantain, English plantain