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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


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plantago_maritima_Sturm63.jpg

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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Plantago maritima is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in).
It is hardy to zone (UK) 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: acid, neutral and basic (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

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].

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].

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An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

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

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife Dynamic accumulator

Cultivation details

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

Temperature Converter

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

Celsius Fahrenheit:

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

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 Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Alisma plantago-aquatica	Great Water Plantain, ZE-XIE, European water plantain, American water plantain, Northern water plan	Perennial	0.9	5-9		LMH	N	WeWa	1	3
Plantago affra	Psyllium	Annual	0.6	-		LMH	N	DM	1	3
Plantago amplexicaulis		Annual	0.1	-		LMH	N	DM	1	2
Plantago arenaria	French Psyllium	Annual	0.3	-		LMH	N	DM	1	3
Plantago asiatica	Che Qian Zi	Perennial	0.5	5-9		LMH	SN	M	1	3	2
Plantago australis	Mexican Plantain	Perennial	0.2	-		LMH	N	M	1	2
Plantago camtschatica		Perennial	0.3	-		LM	N	DM	1	2
Plantago coronopus	Buck's-Horn Plantain	Annual/Perennial	0.3	5-9		LM	N	DM	3	2	2
Plantago crassifolia		Perennial	0.2	-		LMH	N	M	1	2
Plantago cunninghamii			0.0	-		LMH	SN	M	0	0
Plantago debilis		Perennial	0.4	-		LMH	SN	M	0	0
Plantago decipiens		Perennial	0.2	-		LMH	N	DM	1	2
Plantago depressa		Perennial	0.0	-		LMH	SN	M	1	2
Plantago hakusanensis		Perennial	0.1	-		LMH	N	M	1	2
Plantago juncoides		Perennial	0.0	-		LMH	N	DM	1	2
Plantago lanceolata	Ribwort Plantain, Narrowleaf plantain	Perennial	0.5	5-9		LMH	N	DM	2	3	3
Plantago major	Common Plantain, Cart Track Plant,White Man's Foot ,Plantain	Perennial	0.1	3-12	M	LMH	N	M	2	3	3
Plantago media	Hoary Plantain	Perennial	0.1	5-9		LMH	N	DM	2	2	2
Plantago oliganthus		Perennial	0.2	-		LMH	N	M	1	2
Plantago ovata	Blond Psyllium, Desert Indianwheat	Annual	0.0	0-0		LMH	N	DM	2	3
Plantago psyllium	Fleawort	Annual	0.6	-		LMH	N	DM	2	3
Plantago rugelii	Blackseed Plantain	Annual/Perennial	0.1	0-0		LMH	N	DM	1	2	0

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.

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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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