American plantain
Plantago rugelii
This species is often distinguished from its European cousin by the distinct purple or reddish tint at the base of its leaf stalks.
- Scientific name
- Plantago rugelii
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Lamiales › Plantaginaceae › Plantago
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- urban
- Habitat
- Disturbed soils, lawns, roadsides, meadows, and open woodlands.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis via sunlight, water, and soil nutrients).
- Range
- United States, Canada
- Size
- Leaves 5-20cm long; flower spikes up to 30cm tall.
- Lifespan
- 2-5 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Widespread use of broadleaf herbicides in residential and agricultural areas.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Safe to touch. Leaves are traditionally used to soothe insect stings. If harvesting for any purpose, ensure the area has not been treated with chemical herbicides or pesticides.
Plantago rugelii is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. It is native to North America, where it occurs in eastern Canada and the central and eastern United States. Its common names include American plantain , blackseed plantain , pale plantain , and Rugel's plantain . The generic name Plantago is from the Latin planta ("footprint") and the species name rugelii honors Ferdinand Ignatius Xavier Rugel (1806-1879), a German-born botanist and pharmacist.
Photo: Melissa McMasters, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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