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Plantago maritima - L.

Common Name Sea Plantain, Goose tongue, California goose tongue
Family Plantaginaceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Short turf in salt marshes near the sea and by streams in mountains, usually in saline or wet soils[17].
Range Western Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain, Hungary and Russia.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Plantago maritima Sea Plantain, Goose tongue, California goose tongue


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plantago_maritima_Sturm63.jpg
Plantago maritima Sea Plantain, Goose tongue, California goose tongue
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Nova

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Plantago maritima is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Seed
Edible Uses:

Young leaves - raw or cooked[2, 61, 105, 183]. A delicious flavour[172]. This is one of the nicer-tasting members of the genus, the leaves are fairly low in fibres and make an acceptable addition to a mixed salad[K]. The leaves are canned for winter use in Alaska[183]. Seed - raw or cooked. The seed can be ground into a powder and used as a flour extender[172]. The seed is very small and tedious to harvest[172].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Laxative

Plantain seeds contain up to 30% mucilage which swells up in the gut, acting as a bulk laxative and soothing irritated membranes[238]. Sometimes the seed husks are used without the seeds[238].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

An important food plant for the caterpillars of many species of butterflies[30]. Dynamic accumulator.

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Dynamic accumulator

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer. A sowing can be made outdoors in situ in mid to late spring if you have enough seeds.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, Syria (west), Turkey, Armenia, Russian Federation (Buryatia, Tyva, Respublika, Chita, Irkutsk, Omsk, Tyumen), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon), Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario (north), Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, Manitoba (northeast), British Columbia (west)), Greenland, United States (Alaska, Connecticut (south), Maine (south), Massachusetts (east), New Hampshire (southeast), New Jersey, New York (southeast), Rhode Island, Oregon (west), Washington (west), California) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Argentina (Chubut, Mendoza, Neuquén, Río Negro, Santa Cruz, Tierra del Fuego), Chile EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, Faroe Islands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Croatia, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Spain, France, Portugal AFRICA: Algeria, Morocco

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Alisma plantago-aquaticaGreat Water Plantain, ZE-XIE, European water plantain, American water plantain, Northern water planPerennial0.9 5-9  LMHNWeWa13 
Plantago affraPsylliumAnnual0.6 -  LMHNDM13 
Plantago amplexicaulis Annual0.1 -  LMHNDM12 
Plantago arenariaFrench PsylliumAnnual0.3 -  LMHNDM13 
Plantago asiaticaChe Qian ZiPerennial0.5 5-9  LMHSNM132
Plantago australisMexican PlantainPerennial0.2 -  LMHNM12 
Plantago camtschatica Perennial0.3 -  LMNDM12 
Plantago coronopusBuck's-Horn PlantainAnnual/Perennial0.3 5-9  LMNDM322
Plantago crassifolia Perennial0.2 -  LMHNM12 
Plantago cunninghamii  0.0 -  LMHSNM00 
Plantago debilis Perennial0.4 -  LMHSNM00 
Plantago decipiens Perennial0.2 -  LMHNDM12 
Plantago depressa Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM12 
Plantago hakusanensis Perennial0.1 -  LMHNM12 
Plantago juncoides Perennial0.0 -  LMHNDM12 
Plantago lanceolataRibwort Plantain, Narrowleaf plantainPerennial0.5 5-9  LMHNDM233
Plantago majorCommon Plantain, Cart Track Plant,White Man's Foot ,PlantainPerennial0.1 3-12 MLMHNM233
Plantago mediaHoary PlantainPerennial0.1 5-9  LMHNDM222
Plantago oliganthus Perennial0.2 -  LMHNM12 
Plantago ovataBlond Psyllium, Desert IndianwheatAnnual0.0 0-0  LMHNDM231
Plantago psylliumFleawortAnnual0.6 -  LMHNDM231
Plantago rugeliiBlackseed PlantainAnnual/Perennial0.1 0-0  LMHNDM120

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Emil Nilsson   Tue Jan 4 20:55:20 2005

Europaean Plantago maritima are generally self-incompatible (see Ross 1970, Breeding systems in Plantago, Heredity). However, north European populations are self-compatible so variations are known to occur. Furthermore, the species is generally gynodioecious, i.e. female plant co-exist with hermaphrodite plants. Altoghether, this is a interesting plant!

Link: Emil Nilssons research page Ongoing research on gynodioecy and mating system in Plantago maritima

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