Herb. No. 050 · Plantaginaceae
European yard weed, now a path-plant on every temperate continent.
Native · Europe
Native Also grownNow a garden plant worldwide
OpenGentleplant
Plantain
Plantago major
The ribbed lawn weed you step on — a first-aid leaf for bites and scrapes.
Broadleaf and ribwort plantain are pan-global vulneraries. Crush a clean leaf on a sting or nettle burn. Internally the seed husk (psyllium is a cousin) is a bulk fiber. Identify the parallel ribs.
Flavor
Green, mushroomy, a little salty — a wild salad leaf when young.
Parts used
Leaf · Seed
In favor
- Everywhere
- True first-aid plant
Against
- Roadside plants collect exhaust
- Seed husk needs water or it constipates