Plantago afra |
Plantago helleri |
|
---|---|---|
glandular plantain |
Heller's plantain |
|
Habit | Annuals; roots taproots, slender. | Annuals; roots taproots, slender. |
Stems | 100–350 mm, freely branched. |
0–12 mm. |
Leaves | cauline, opposite, 30–60 × 1–4 mm; blade linear to linear-lanceolate, margins entire or slightly toothed, veins conspicuous or not, surfaces hairy. |
50–130 × 3–7 mm; blade linear, margins entire, veins conspicuous or not, surfaces villous, adaxial rarely glabrous. |
Scapes | 30–50 mm, hairy. |
80–250 mm, hairy, hairs patent, long and antrorse, short. |
Spikes | greenish or brownish, 40–65 mm, densely flowered, glandular-hairy; bracts all similar, ovate, 3–5 mm, lengths 1–1.5 times sepals. |
greenish, whitish, or brownish, 50–120 mm, densely flowered, flowers in whorls or pairs; bracts triangular, 2.5–8 mm, length 0.6–2.2 times sepals. |
Flowers | sepals 3–3.5 mm; corolla radially symmetric, lobes reflexed, 2–3 mm, base obtuse; stamens 4. |
sepals 3.5–4 mm; corolla radially symmetric, lobes reflexed, 3–3.6 mm, base slightly cordate; stamens 4, connective elongated, apex acute. |
Capsules | lanceoloid. |
|
Seeds | 2, 2–3 mm. |
2, 3.2–3.8 mm. |
2n | = 12. |
= 20. |
Plantago afra |
Plantago helleri |
|
Phenology | Flowering summer. | Flowering spring. |
Habitat | Disturbed habitats. | Dry slopes and flats on limestone. |
Elevation | 0–200 m. (0–700 ft.) | 100–1700 m. (300–5600 ft.) |
Distribution |
MA; s Europe [Introduced in North America] |
NM; TX
|
Discussion | Plantago afra is known in Massachusetts from a single collection made in 1927 in Worcester County. Plantago psyllium Linnaeus (1762, not 1753), a rejected name, and P. indica Linnaeus are misapplied names that pertain here. Plantago squalida Salisbury is an illegitimate name that pertains here. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Populations of Plantago helleri are concentrated in central Texas, especially in the Edwards Plateau and Trans-Pecos. The species also occurs in Eddy and Lincoln counties, New Mexico. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 17, p. 284. | FNA vol. 17, p. 287. |
Parent taxa | ||
Sibling taxa | ||
Name authority | Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1: 168. (1762) | Small: Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 1: 288. (1899) |
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