Plantago media

Plantago media, known as the hoary plantain, is a species of genus Plantago native to central Europe and introduced to parts of the north-east United States. Its generic name is derived from the Latin for sole; like other members of Plantago, it should not be confused with the plantain, a starchy banana.

Description

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Plantago media grows in damp grassy meadows up to an altitude of 2000 m. A slender stalk of between 5 to 50 cm develops from a basal rosette of finely-haired leaves. Delicate pink-white flowers are borne between May and September. P. media is hermaphrodite and is pollinated by wind or insects, particularly bees.

The plant is edible and has long maintained a reputation for medicinal effects as an astringent for treating wounds; in antiquity it was employed against toothache and eye infections. Archeological finds testify to its use during the Roman era in Britain.^[1] The seeds are a laxative.

References

1. ^ Plantago media. Archaeobotanical Computer Database (ABCD). Retrieved on 2006-05-29.