Common name: Plantain Family name: Plantaginaceae Botanical name: Plantago spp. Flowering/fruiting season: Spring Location: Very common and widespread in the region (Eddy et al., 1998:128)

Use:

• Food, medicine
• Leaves and sap used as a drawing poultice (Wreck Bay Community & Renwick, 2000:28)
• Native Sago Plantago cunninghamii - seed pounded and made into porridge (Gott, 1995)

Notes:

• P. varia - 'common at lower elevations below 3000ft; P. Antarctica - 'usually found above 3500ft.' (Burbidge & Gray, 1976:334)
• 'The seeds swell up in water and produce a mucilage.' (Low in Gott, 1995)

Language names:

Horticulture :
P. lanceolata is a common weed in gardens; P. muelleri has 'thick bright green leaves' and will grow in a rockery; 'never allow to dry out.' Reproduce by plant division. (Wrigley & Fagg, 1998:179).

Similar species:

Use code:
LEA

Photo by Daphne Nash.

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