Plantago maritima - L.

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Summary

Physical Characteristics

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].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[200]. An important food plant for the caterpillars of many species of butterflies[30].

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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

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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 QR Code What's this? This is a QR code (short for Quick Response) which gives fast-track access to our website pages. QR Codes are barcodes that can be read by mobile phone (smartphone) cameras. This QR Code is unique to this page. All plant pages have their own unique code. For more information about QR Codes click here. 1. Copy and print the QR code to a plant label, poster, book, website, magazines, newspaper etc and even t-shirts. 2. Smartphone users scan the QR Code which automatically takes them to the webpage the QR Code came from. 3. Smartphone users quickly have information on a plant directly for the pfaf.org website on their phone.

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