Hoary plantain
Plantago media
Family: Plantaginaceae
What it is like
A low herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has leaves in a ring. The leaves are narrowly oval and have 7-9 veins. They are covered with dense crisped hairs. The flower spikes are much longer than the leaves. The flowers have pink stamens. They have a scent.
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 dry grassy places. In north China it grows on wet banks and mountain slopes between 1,400-2,000 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Andorra, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Central Asia, China, Europe, Falklands, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Russia, Siberia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Türkiye
How it is used for food
The leaves and stems are eaten fresh and raw or cooked. They are used as a potherb.
Edible parts
Flowers, leaves, seeds
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Plangtarl platt, Podorozhnik, Srednja bokvica, Srednji trpotec, Volovo ucho