Broad-Leaved Plantain

Plantain (Plantaginaceae family):

Plantago major L.

EPPO code:

PLAMA

Other names:

Plantain, common plantain, doorweed, dooryard plantain

Species information

Lifecycle:

Perennial.

Propagation:

Reproduces by seed.

Emergence:

Broad-leaved plantain intermittently germinates from late April to late September with peak flushes in May.

Habitat:

The plant is most commonly found in southwestern Ontario in row crops (mainly in minimum tilled cropping systems), waste places and open fields. It establishes in all types of soil.

Competitiveness:

Little data exists on this species competitiveness, but established populations will negatively affect crop establishment.

Identification clues

Seedling

Cotyledons:

Oblong with a rounded point.

First leaves:

The plant’s first leaves are oblong to oval with an entire margin.

Mature leaves:

Mature leaves form a rosette. All leaves have an elastic leafstalk; when pulled it will separate from the leaf, but the veins will remain intact.

Mature plant

Stems:

Broad-leaved plantain has no stem; the leaves come from a basal rosette.

Flowers:

Broad-leaved plantain has small, white flowers (1 mm) that grow on long leafless stalks that emerge from the rosette. Broad and ovate bracts surround the flowers, and seeds are produced in an oval, two-celled capsule.

Seeds:

The seeds of broad-leaved plantain are light to dark brown and glossy. They grow to 1–1.5 mm in length.

Roots:

Short taproot with fibrous roots.

Often mistaken for

I know it's not White cockle because broad-leaved plantain is more or less hairless compared to the extremely hairy white cockle.

I know it's not Narrow-leaved plantain because the oval leaves of broad-leaved plantain distinguish it from narrow-leaved plantain which has narrow elongated leaves.