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Plantago ovata - Forssk.

Common Name Blond Psyllium, Desert Indianwheat
Family Plantaginaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry open places[50].
Range Europe - Mediterranean to E. Asia - India.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Plantago ovata Blond Psyllium, Desert Indianwheat


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs
Plantago ovata Blond Psyllium, Desert Indianwheat
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 
Plantago ovata is a ANNUAL. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is self-fertile.
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. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

P. decumbens. P. ispaghula.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Seed
Edible Uses: Stabilizer

Young leaves - raw or cooked. The mucilage contained in the seedcoat is used as a stabilizer in ice cream, chocolate etc[105, 177, 183]. Seed - sprouted and eaten in salads[183].

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.
Anticholesterolemic  Antidiarrhoeal  Demulcent  Dysentery  Laxative  Urinary

Psyllium has been used as a safe and effective laxative for thousands of years in Western herbal medicine[254]. Both the dried seeds and the seed husks are demulcent, emollient and laxative[4, 9, 46, 254]. They are used in the treatment of dysentery, catarrhal conditions of the genito-urinary tract, inflamed membranes of the intestinal canal etc[4, 46, 165, 171]. The seeds have a mucilaginous coat and swell to several times their volume when in water[9]. The seeds and the husks contain high levels of fibre, they expand and become highly gelatinous when soaked in water. By maintaining a high water content within the large bowel they increase the bulk of the stool, easing its passage[254]. They are used as a demulcent and as a bulk laxative in the treatment of constipation, dysentery and other intestinal complaints, having a soothing and regulatory effect upon the system[4, 9]. Their regulatory effect on the digestive system means that they can also be used in the treatment of diarrhoea and by helping to soften the stool they reduce the irritation of haemorrhoids[254]. The jelly-like mucilage produced when psyllium is soaked in water has the ability to absorb toxins within the large bowel. Thus it helps to remove toxins from the body and can be used to reduce auto-toxicity[254]. The oil in the seed embryo contains 50% linoleic acid and has been used as a preventative of atherosclerosis[240]. It is also effective in reducing cholesterol levels in the blood[240].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Starch

A mucilage found in the seed coat is sometimes used as a starch to stiffen linen[4].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native habitat it should succeed outdoors in most parts of the country. This plant is cultivated for its seed in India[46, 61]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in any moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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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: Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Egypt (Sinai), Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan TROPICAL ASIA: Pakistan EUROPE: Spain (south) AFRICA: Spain (Canarias), Portugal (Madeira Islands), Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia

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 maritimaSea Plantain, Goose tongue, California goose tonguePerennial0.2 5-9  LMHNM322
Plantago mediaHoary PlantainPerennial0.1 5-9  LMHNDM222
Plantago oliganthus Perennial0.2 -  LMHNM12 
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

Forssk.

Botanical References

50

Links / References

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

Readers comment

Tom Peterson   Sun Oct 24 10:58:59 2004

Medicinal Uses: Maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis

Am J Gastroenterol. 1999 Feb;94(2):427-33. Randomized clinical trial of Plantago ovata seeds (dietary fiber) as compared with mesalamine in maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis.

Link: National Center for Biotechnology Information Abstract of study

Dr. Ketan Shah   Sat Nov 3 2007

Dr. Ketan Shah http://www.psylliumexport.com

Ian Salomon   Tue Dec 8 2009

To state that there are no known hazards is a serious error. Psyllium fibre has been known to cause skin allergies and also anaphyllaxis.

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Subject : Plantago ovata  
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