Seasonal Wild Flowers

Ribwort Plantain

Plantago lanceolata

Plantaginaceae

April to October

It is found throughout the country,

See the BSBI distribution map for Ribwort Plantain

It is ubiquitous in grassy and waste places.

Ribwort Plantain is a common, native, perennial herb

growing up to 45cm.

The flowers are on a long, ribbed spike and start off black,

fading to brown.

Flowers can be male, female of bisexual.

The flowers are protogynous with the stigmas appearing

before the stamens.

Each flower has 4 stamens with white filaments and

cream anthers.

There is a single style and shite, linear stigma.

The styles are in a zone above the stamens which

move up the spike as it ages.

The perianth is small and has 4 lanceolate lobes.

Each flower has 4 green to brown sepals

The leaves are at ground level, oval to lanceolate

with distinct 3 to 5 ribs or veins.

Previous page: Rhubarb
Next page: Rock Crane's-bill

Flower spikes of Ribwort Plantain

Halo of stamens viewed from above

Zone of stigmas above the zone

of stamens

Close-up of linear stigmas

Bisexual flower with stigma and stamens

2 flowers - 4 perianth lobes

and 4 stamens each

Ribbed leaves