Plantago coronopus L.

Hairy annual or perennial with persistent taproot. Lvs all radical, rosulate; petiole ill-defined, with silky tuft of hairs at base. Lamina (10)–30–120–(200) × 1–5–(10) mm, linear, 1–(2)-pinnatisect, rarely entire, with 1–4 pairs of linear, acute to subulate lobes or teeth, hairy, particularly on the margins, sometimes only sparsely ciliate; main vein usually 1. Scapes 3–45 cm long, not ribbed, usually densely clothed in antrorse hairs. Spikes 0.5- c. 8 cm long, usually cylindric, shortly oblong in very small plants. Bracts almost = calyx, ovate-acuminate; keels prominent, hairy, herbaceous; margins hyaline in lower part. Sepals unequal, c. 2 mm long, broad-ovate, with green, herbaceous, hairy or glabrous keel and exposed margins ciliate, remainder of sepal hyaline. Corolla tube = or > sepals, hairy in lower 1/2; lobes 1–1.2 mm long, ovate, spreading. Stamens glabrous, exserted. Style hairy, long, > corolla. Capsule mostly 1.5–2 mm long, broad-ellipsoid or subglobose, usually 4-seeded. Seeds 0.8–1 mm long, ovoid-ellipsoid, pinkish brown, convex on both sides; margin hyaline.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Jul.–Apr.