Common plantain, Broadleaf plantain, Greater plantain
Plantago major
Family: Plantaginaceae
What it is like
A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a short, stout rootstock. It has a ring of leaves near the ground. The leaves are ribbed. They are soft and oval shaped. The leaves narrow into the stalks. The leaf stalks are fairly long and have wings. The leaves can be 30 cm long by 15 cm wide. The leaves have 5-9 easy to see veins running along them. The flower stem is leafless and as long as or shorter than the leaves. The flowers are in a dense spike. This can be as long as or longer than its stem.
Leaves reported to contain a small amount of Vitamin C. The plantains or Plantaginaceae are mostly in temperate regions. There are about 165 Plantago species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in damp places. It grows in wetlands. It grows mostly in cool places. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Alaska, Albania, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belarus, Bosnia, Brazil, Britain, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Canada, Caucasus, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, East Timor, Ecuador, Estonia, Eswatini, Europe (country/location of origin), Falklands, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, NW India, Norway, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Puerto Rico, Russia, Sao Tome and Principe, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, St Helena, St Lucia, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tibet, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
Young leaves are lightly cooked. Older leaves become more bitter. The leaves are used in soups. The leaves can be dipped in batter and fried over low heat. They are also used in chutney. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat. The dried leaves are used for tea. The seeds are used to give a jelly like effect in drinks. They can be ground into a meal for bread. The seeds yield an edible oil. The roots are eaten cooked.
It is sold in local markets. It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Leaves, seeds, leaves - tea, roots, vegetable
How it is grown
Plants can be grown by seeds.
Its other names
Local names
Ah-gwaw-paung-ta-htaung, Akyaw-baung-tha-thaung, Babka, Baga, Bag yapragi, Balazagva, Bar preme, Belgheviz, Bolila ba lipoli, Brede weegbree, Broad-leafed plantain, Bud-gull, Centunervi, Che qian, Cheuli, Damarliot, Damar otu, Daun sejumbok, Daun sendok, Ekur anjing, Ezan lezu, Ghuzbe, Groblad, Gul, Isabgol, Isafghol, Karet, Kel-ba-an, Kesikotu, Ki arut, Kirksinirotu, Kolocier, Kolosija, Kopakopa, Kutu kiyanchi remedyu tape, Lengue pechere, Lessan-imthaur, Llanten, Llanten mayor, Luhuriya, Ma de, Mravaldzargva, Nido marto, Ominwas, Orecchie d'asino, Padaroznik, Pampina larga, Pel hewes, Pelonbas, Plantatge ample, Plantain, Planten, Podorozhnik, Pulung nyang, Rat's-tail plantain, Sangka-buwah, Sangkubah, Se-gyaw-paung-ta-htaung, Se-kyaw-gyi, Sepodi, Sinirliot, Sinirotu, Teeleht, Tharam, Tirafilo, Torraja cimarrona, Torreja cimarrona, Veliki trpotec, Wa gui, Warmi llanten, Yara otu, Yawar llanten, Yempat, Zenska bokvica
Synonyms
Plantago asiatica L.; Plantago depressa Willd.; Plantago loureiri Roem. et Schult.; Plantago crenata Blanco; Plantago erosa Wall.; Plantago media Blanco;