Plantago media L.
hoary plantain
Plantaginaceae (Mare's-tail family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
hoary plantain
Plantaginaceae (Mare's-tail family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Perennial herb from a short, stout stem-base and a long taproot; stems erect, few, simple, straight appressed-hairy, 10-40 (60) cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves elliptic or egg-shaped, tapering at the ends, short-stalked, 4-30 cm long, entire or slightly irregularly toothed, white-hairy, 3- to 7-veined; stem leaves lacking.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of dense bracteate spikes with fragrant flowers, 2-10 cm long; corollas greenish, 4-lobed, the lobes 1.2-1.5 mm long; bracts broadly egg-shaped with papery margins; stamens conspicuous.
Fruits:
Capsules, egg-shaped, 2.8-3 mm long; seeds 2-4, slightly concave, brown to black, wrinkled, 1.8-2 mm long.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Plantago media
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
890 | 890 | 890 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
4 | 4 | 4 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
270 | 270 | 270 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
4 | 4 | 4 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
C | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
1 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
PP | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
PP(1) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Mesic to dry lawns, fields and waste places in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; rare in S BC; introduced from Eurasia.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Plantago media var. monnieri (Giraud.) Roug.
Taxonomic Notes
"The family Plantaginaceae includes three genera and an estimated 250-275 species from diverse habitats throughout the world (Pilger 1937). In Canada, the family is represented by two genera containing seven introduced species and ten native species" (Bassett 1973).
References Bassett, I. John. 1973. The Plantains of Canada. Monograph No. 7. Canada Department of Agriculture. |