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Heller's plantain

California plantain, dotseed plantain, erect dwarf plantain

Habit Annuals; roots taproots, slender. Annuals; roots taproots, slender.
Stems

0–12 mm.

0–10 mm.

Leaves

50–130 × 3–7 mm;

blade linear, margins entire, veins conspicuous or not, surfaces villous, adaxial rarely glabrous.

50–120 × 1–4 mm;

blade linear, margins entire or toothed, veins conspicuous or not, surfaces villous or lanate, rarely glabrate.

Scapes

80–250 mm, hairy, hairs patent, long and antrorse, short.

200–1500 mm, hairy, hairs antrorse, long and short.

Spikes

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.

greenish or brownish, 70–150 mm, densely flowered, flowers in whorls or pairs;

bracts ovate, 1–2 mm, length 0.3–0.8 times sepals.

Flowers

sepals 3.5–4 mm;

corolla radially symmetric, lobes reflexed, 3–3.6 mm, base slightly cordate;

stamens 4, connective elongated, apex acute.

sepals 2.5–3.4 mm;

corolla radially symmetric, lobes reflexed, 2–2.7 mm, base obtuse or slightly cordate;

stamens 4, connective elongated, apex acute.

Seeds

2, 3.2–3.8 mm.

2, 2.1–2.9 mm.

2n

= 20.

= 20.

Plantago helleri

Plantago erecta

Phenology Flowering spring. Flowering spring.
Habitat Dry slopes and flats on limestone. Dunes, grassy hills and flats, clearings in woods.
Elevation 100–1700 m. (300–5600 ft.) -50–1400 m. (-200–4600 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
NM; TX
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; OR; Mexico (Baja California)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

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. 287. FNA vol. 17, p. 286.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Plantago Plantaginaceae > Plantago
Sibling taxa
P. afra, P. argyrea, P. aristata, P. australis, P. canescens, P. cordata, P. coronopus, P. elongata, P. erecta, P. eriopoda, P. firma, P. floccosa, P. heterophylla, P. hookeriana, P. indica, P. lanceolata, P. macrocarpa, P. major, P. maritima, P. media, P. ovata, P. patagonica, P. pusilla, P. rhodosperma, P. rugelii, P. sempervirens, P. sparsiflora, P. subnuda, P. tweedyi, P. virginica, P. wrightiana
P. afra, P. argyrea, P. aristata, P. australis, P. canescens, P. cordata, P. coronopus, P. elongata, P. eriopoda, P. firma, P. floccosa, P. helleri, P. heterophylla, P. hookeriana, P. indica, P. lanceolata, P. macrocarpa, P. major, P. maritima, P. media, P. ovata, P. patagonica, P. pusilla, P. rhodosperma, P. rugelii, P. sempervirens, P. sparsiflora, P. subnuda, P. tweedyi, P. virginica, P. wrightiana
Synonyms P. patagonica var. californica, P. erecta subsp. rigidior, P. hookeriana var. californica
Name authority Small: Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 1: 288. (1899) E. Morris: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 27: 118. (1900)
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