Plantago australis

Lamarck in J. Lamarck and J. L. M. Poiret

Tabl. Encycl. 1: 339. 1792.

Common names: Mexican plantain
Synonyms: Plantago australis subsp. hirtella (Kunth) Rahn P. hirtella Kunth P. hirtella var. galeottiana (Decaisne) Pilger P. hirtella var. mollior Pilger
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 17. Treatment on page 284. Mentioned on page 283, 285.
Revision as of 20:09, 16 December 2019 by FNA>Volume Importer

Perennials; caudex glabrous; roots fibrous, stout. Stems 0–10 mm. Leaves 40–350 × 6–77 mm; blade elliptic to narrowly elliptic, margins entire, veins conspicuous, surfaces pilose, rarely glabrate, adaxial surface hairs not floccose, less than 2 mm long, more than 0.03 mm wide. Scapes 30–560 mm, hairy, hairs antrorse, short. Spikes greenish or brownish, 100–1000 mm, densely flowered; bracts narrowly triangular, 1.6–4.2 mm, length 0.8–1.5 times sepals. Flowers: sepals 2–2.5 mm; corolla radially symmetric, lobes erect, forming a beak, 2–2.8 mm, base obtuse; stamens 4. Seeds 3, 1.2–2.2 mm. 2n = 24.


Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Open places.
Elevation: 0–1000 m.

Distribution

Ariz., Mexico, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Plantago australis occurs in Cochise, Coconino, and Pima counties. Plantago australis is most diverse in South America, where as many as 16 subspecies (K. Rahn 1974) may be recognized. Plants from California identified as P. hirtella are most likely P. subnuda. However, since the most important distinguishing character of P. australis is the absence of the developed taproot (which is fragile and often broken in herbarium specimens), all these samples require careful examination. Further research is needed also to clarify the circumscriptions of P. australis and P. subnuda.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Plantago australis"
Alexey Shipunov +
Lamarck in J. Lamarck and J. L. M. Poiret +
Mexican plantain +
Ariz. +, Mexico +, Central America +  and South America. +
0–1000 m. +
Open places. +
Flowering summer. +
Tabl. Encycl. +
Plantago australis subsp. hirtella +, P. hirtella +, P. hirtella var. galeottiana +  and P. hirtella var. mollior +
Plantago australis +
Plantago +
species +