The Plantains
What are they?
Plantains are not the showiest of plants and are easily passed over by those looking for more interesting things to photograph! Most species have flowers arranged in thin, rat-tail spikes and the flowers are often more or less without petals. There are both native and introduced species in the Cape May area.
Where are they found?
These are plants of often very arid areas and some species seem to thrive in the tiniest cracks on well-trodden walkways and pavement. Some are coastal sand specialists while others may be found in boggy ground.
Identification
Most species are fairly straight forward to identify around Cape May, except for the two broad-leaved species. These are best told apart later in the year when seed pods are on the plants.
Greater Plantain Plantago major
(Common Plantain) Both native and introduced from Europe. A common and widespread weed of waste places, both on well-trodden grassy tracks and as a weed of sidewalks and other urban areas. Flowers June to September. Very similar to the native Rugel's Plantain and best told from it by the shape of the seed capsules. These are broadly oval or egg-shaped and the lid splits off around the center of the capsule, at the widest point (look for a neat line across the middle of the capsule). Leaves are usually untoothed around the margins, the petiole is rarely reddish at the base and the blade is usually thicker and more robust than Rugel's Plantain.
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Rugel's Plantain Plantago rugelii
(Pale Plantain) A native species, found in similar places to Greater Plantain though less often as a weed in urban areas and more often in damp situations. Flowers June to September. Best told from Greater Plantain by the seed capsules which are narrower and the lid splits off lower down, towards the base. Leaves are more likely to be toothed toward the base of the blade, the petiole is usually reddish at the base and the blade is usually thinner and more flimsy than Greater Plantain.
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Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata
(English Plantain) After introduction from Europe, this is now one of the most widespread plant species in the world and can be found commonly in all kinds of grassy and waste places. Flowers April to October.
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Sea Plantain Plantago maritima
An uncommon species of saltmarshes. Flowers July to September. Easily overlooked unless in flower. Leaves thick and fleshy in cross-section.
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Large-bracted Plantain Plantago aristata
Found in usually dry, even arid, conditions in coastal sands and waste places. Sometimes as an urban weed. Flowers June to July. Leaves narrow and grass-like. Plants growing in poor soil are much smaller with small fruiting heads; those in richer soils produce much longer heads with many grass-like bracts.
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Virginia Plantain Plantago virginica
Dry, open ground in lawns, roadsides and disturbed and waste places. Flowers April to June.
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Dwarf Plantain Plantago pusilla
An uncommon plant found in bare patches in grassy areas, though its small size may mean that it is overlooked and perhaps more common than is realized. Flowers April to June.
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