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USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 3 |
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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Plantago psyllium is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in). 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
Plantago psyllia
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Young leaves - raw or cooked[105]. Seed - sprouted and eaten in salads[183]. Due to their mucilaginous quality, the sprouts are usually grown on clay or other porous materials[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.
Dysentery
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]. 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 macerated and decocted seeds yield a rich mucilage that is used in relieving skin irritations and reddened eyelids[7].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
The seeds are used in face-masks in order to soften the skin[7]. A type of gum is obtained from the seeds and used for making fabric dressings[7].
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Succeeds in any moderately fertile soil in a sunny position. Cultivated for its seed which is used medicinally[46, 61]. Closely related to P. arenaria. There is considerable confusion over the correct name for this species. This same name was given to two different species by Linnaeus, one in 1753 and again in 1762. The species named in 1753 is sometimes held to be a synonym for P. arenaria but is here treated as P. psyllia. The species named in 1762 is now held to be P. affra.
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: Cyprus, Egypt (Sinai), Iran (north), Israel, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan TROPICAL ASIA: Pakistan (north) EUROPE: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia), Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France (incl. Corsica) AFRICA: Algeria, Egypt, Libya (north), 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 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 maritima | Sea Plantain, Goose tongue, California goose tongue | Perennial | 0.2 |
5-9
| | LMH | N | M | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 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 | 1 |
| 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.
Expert comment
Author
L. (1753 non 1762)
Botanical References
50200
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
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Subject : Plantago psyllium
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