Plantago australis
Plantago firma
Mexican plantain
Chilean plantain
0–10 mm.
0–10 mm.
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.
20–50 × 2–15 mm;
blade narrowly obovate or narrowly elliptic, margins toothed, veins conspicuous, surfaces densely pilose or glabrate.
30–560 mm, hairy, hairs antrorse, short.
10–50 mm, hairy, hairs appressed or nearly patent.
greenish or brownish, 100–1000 mm, densely flowered;
bracts narrowly triangular, 1.6–4.2 mm, length 0.8–1.5 times sepals.
greenish or brownish, 40–60 mm, densely flowered;
bracts triangular, 2–3.1 mm, length 0.7–1.1 times sepals.
sepals 2–2.5 mm;
corolla radially symmetric, lobes erect, forming a beak, 2–2.8 mm, base obtuse;
stamens 4.
sepals 1.8–2.8 mm;
corolla radially symmetric, lobes patent or erect, forming a beak, 1.7–3.1 mm, base obtuse;
stamens 4.
3, 1.2–2.2 mm.
2, 1.5–2.2 mm, adaxial face flat.
= 24.
= 24.
Plantago australis
Plantago firma
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.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Plantago firma has been known in California, especially in Marin County, since at least 1896, but the most recent collection known was made in 1957.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
WildflowerSearch
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USDA Plants Database
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