Annuals; roots taproots, slender. Stems 20–40 mm. Leaves 30–200 × 3–7 mm; blade linear or narrowly lanceolate, margins entire, rarely toothed, veins conspicuous or not, abaxial surface villous, adaxial glabrous or sparsely villous. Scapes 100–500 mm, hairy, hairs antrorse, long and short. Spikes greenish or brownish, 80–150 mm, densely flowered, flowers in whorls or pairs; bracts almost linear, 15–30 mm, length 2–12 times sepals. Flowers: sepals 2.7–3.7 mm; corolla bilaterally symmetric, lobes reflexed, adaxials 1.4–2.3 mm, laterals symmetric, base deeply cordate; stamens 4, connective elongated, apex acute. Seeds 2, 2.5–2.9 mm. 2n = 20.

Phenology: Flowering spring–fall.
Habitat: Roadsides, pastures, disturbed ground.
Elevation: 0–700 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

N.S., Ont., Ala., Ark., Calif., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.H., N.J., N.Mex., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Oreg., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis., introduced in Central America, Europe, Asia.

Discussion

Plantago aristata is similar to P. patagonica; the latter is distinguished by its dense, villous indument.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.