Its root system consists of a shallow crown of coarse fibrous roots. Ribwort Plantain is an excellent cough remedy because of the mucilage, astringent bitters and silicic acid it contains. It happily…, The Wildlife Trusts: Protecting Wildlife for the Future. Ribwort or English plantain is much taller, with thin, lance-shaped leaf blades that are rarely more than an inch in breadth. There are about 20 species of Plantain found in Victoria, including both Australian native and introduced exotics. P. lanceolata is a small, glabrous plant having one to several rosettes. Don't confuse buckhorn plantain … Countries such as Australia, has seen ribwort plantains introduced, and this has resulted in them being an invasive weed in some areas. Ribwort plantain is a plant of grasslands, field edges and cultivated ground and tracks, and regularly pops up in lawns as a weed. Its contribution to the productivity of a sward is perhaps one reason, along with its leaf form, farmers regard it as an honorary grass and call it ‘Ribgrass'. Ribwort. Your email address will not be published. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. The Wildlife Trusts is a movement made up of 46 Wildlife Trusts: independent charities with a shared mission. An ovoid to cylindrical dense spike of flowers to 12 cm long is produced on an unbranched stem to 50 cm high. An introduced herb with a taproot. Ribwort plantain is often seen as a nuisance to many gardeners. Ribwort plantain plants are useful for textile purposes, as they can be made into dye; the fibres from the leaves can be used; and the seeds can be treated to stiffen fabric. It is known by the common names ribwort plantain, narrowleaf plantain, English plantain, ribleaf, lamb's tongue, and buckhorn. Its antibiotic action makes it effective in febrile disorders of the lungs and bronchi. Ribwort plantains typically grow to be approximately 50 centimetres (20 inches) in height, and they have tall flower spikes, with heads that are surrounded by numerous tiny white petals. Sheep can then graze the plants and a thin soil can form, bringing in other species. ‘Ribwort plantains’ are also known as ‘narrowleaf plantains’, ‘English plantains’, ‘buckhorn plaintains’, ‘lamb’s tongues’, ‘rib grass’ and ‘ribleaves’. The leaves are long, lance–shaped and deeply grooved. Buckhorn plantain is used for common colds, fever, cough, wound healing, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Ribwort and hoary plantain ( P. lanceolata and P. media, respectively) are troublesome weeds. However, for those looking to attract wildlife its worth allowing it a small place on your lawn: this plant attracts many small butterflies, moths and hoverflies and provides a good source of food for birds in the winter. Used as an antihistamine, Ribwort Plantain is very effective at dealing with nettle stings or insect bites/stings unlike Dock which is just a placebo but if your children get stung and you can’t find any Plantain, placebos work. Email me at cris (at) tenrandomfacts (dot) com and ask for a specific topic. Required fields are marked *. The ribwort plantain belongs to the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) and is related to other medicinally interesting plants such as the common toadflax, the foxglove or the speedwell. Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), Different types of protected wildlife sites. This…, The striking red crown, golden back, and bright yellow wings of the goldfinch make it one of our prettiest garden birds. ... A powdery mildew fungus is a common parasite of the ribwort plantain. Its antibiotic action makes it effective in febrile disorders of the lungs and bronchi. The scientific name of a ribwort plantain is Plantago lanceolata, and it is from the family Plantaginaceae, the family of plantains. As it is a herb you can eat Ribwort plantain. The roots are fibrous and arise from a thick, short, taproot-like underground stem. It is bitter to eat though it is more readily found than P. major. The individual flowers are inconspicuous and form seeds which are brownish, shiny and become sticky whe… The dried, ripe seeds of these species, generally called psyllium, is high in mucilage and is widely used as a bulk-forming laxative. Plantain (pronounced plan-tin) is a perennial leafy plant in the Plantaginaceae family that often behaves as an annual or biennial plant. Plantain spreads by seeds does not seam fussy where it grows. Ribwort plantains are easily grown from seed in low quality soil, with a preference for full sunlight, and as a result, the plants are increasingly used in pastures for livestock fodder. Its leaves are gray green to green in color and glabrous to sparsely hairy. Description Top of page P. lanceolata is a small, glabrous to pubescent perennial with one to several rosettes; leaves linear- to narrowly ovate-elliptic, 2-30 x 0.5-3.5 cm, very gradually narrowed to the petiole, entire to sparsely and weakly toothed; bracts 2.5-3.5 mm, the anterior connate for most of their length but their midribs separate, often shortly hairy. Ribwort Plantain seems to be a very versatile addition to the medicine cabinet being an antihistamine, antifungal, antioxidant, analgesic and even a mild antibiotic. The brown, oval flower heads of Ribwort plantain balance on top of thin, wiry stems; the resulting seed heads provide food for birds in winter. It is included in an evolving list of plants carefully researched and chosen by RHS experts. Status : F: Assessment finalised. Details; Flora Type: Herbs. What Is Ribwort Plantain? species of Plantago. In fact, it’s sometimes called narrowleaf plantain, as well as ribleaf, buckthorn, or lamb’s tongue. Ribwort Visit Ten Random Facts's profile on Pinterest. Plant Type: Perennial Zones: 5-9 Height: 12-18 in. The bitter leaves of ribwort plantains are edible and can be eaten cooked or raw, while the seeds can be cooked whole or ground like flour. It occurs in lawns but less frequently than the greater plantain (P. major). Ribwort plantain plants have been used medicinally for a variety of purposes, including the slowing or stopping of bleeding, and treating  inflammation, and they can be used to hasten skin healing. Most posts contain affiliate links. Most Prominent Characteristics of Ribwort Overall Shape and Size: P. major was named “white man’s foot” by the Native Americans, since the plant closely followed the European advance in … Plantago lanceolata is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. Several of the wild Plantains have been used indiscriminately for Plantago major.Of these, the most important is Plantago lanceolatus (Linn. The common names for the plant are ribwort plantain, narrow leaf plantain, English plantain, ribleaf, and lamb’s tongue. Plantago lanceolata is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. Ribwort Plantain is an excellent cough remedy because of the mucilage, astringent bitters and silicic acid it contains. Leaves radiate out from the centre of the plant, which has a strong taproot. Plantago, a genus in the family Plantaginaceae (order Lamiales) with about 265 species. It is relatively drought resistant and is able to grow on dry sites such as embankments. Copper (17.67%) Vitamin C (15.11%) Plantago lanceolata also known as narrow leaved plantain, English plantain, Buckhorn plantain and ribwort plantain, is an erect cool-season perennial plant that is a member of the plantain family (Plantaginaceae). Common Name: Ribwort Plantain; Botanical Description. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In Plantago. RHS Plants for Pollinators plants. Ribwort plantain leaves grown in a rosette formation, and the underside of the long green leaves always feature five obvious veins. Key facts. Leaves to 20 cm in a basal rosette. Facts, folklore, cooking and medicine. This plant will provide nectar and pollen for bees and the many other types of pollinating insects. https://www.treesforlife.org.au/sites/default/files/Ribwort%20Plantain_Weed%20Profile.pdf, http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Plantago+lanceolata, http://keys.trin.org.au:8080/key-server/data/0e0f0504-0103-430d-8004-060d07080d04/media/Html/taxon/Plantago_lanceolata.htm. In the narrower sense, ribwort plantain belongs to the genus of the plantain (Plantago), which, with about 200 species, is very … © Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography, Pushing its way up through the cracks in pavements, the straw-coloured flower spikes of Greater plantain are a familiar sight. Plantago lanceolata. It is currently being developed as a fodder crop in temperate Australia. It is a low growing plant having lanceolate leaves. Ribwort plantain is a perennial herb whose palatable leaves and seeds provide valuable nutritious food for grazing stock and wildlife. Rich in vitamins A and C. High mineral content — silicon, zinc and potassium. Ribwort or narrow–leaf plantain. Date added to the inventory : 07/09/2007. Latin name : Plantaginis lanceolatae folium : English common name : Ribwort Plantain : Botanical name : Plantago lanceolata L. Therapeutic area : Cough and cold. The flowers form on the ends of leafless tall stalks. Ribwort plantain is recorded up to 2,600 ft in the UK and its remains have been found in prehistoric deposits. The small plants usually have a dense tuft of basal leaves and long, leafless stalks bearing a terminal spike of small flowers. As common of a “weed” as … The greater plantain (Plantago major) provides seed spikes for bird food. Look for this 'weed' in lawns, fields and grasslands. Even in locations such as bare rock. By contrast, psyllium and P. ovata have been useful in medical science; they produce mucilaginous seeds, which have been used, for example, in laxative preparations known as psyllium, ispaghul, or spogel seeds. Are gray green to green in color and glabrous to sparsely hairy introduced and. The ribwort plantain is a species of flowering plant in the family of plantains provide. Generally, plantains are categorized under two groups, narrow leaf plantain ( pronounced plan-tin ) is common... 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