General Plant Information (Edit)
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Fruit: Edible to birds
Fruiting Time: Summer
Fall
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Flower Color: Green
Other: Four tiny green sepals, four microscopic white petals, protruding stamens and styles
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Summer
Fall
Inflorescence Height: 6-10 inches
Foliage Mound Height: 1-4 inches
Uses: Groundcover
Will Naturalize
Edible Parts: Stem
Leaves
Eating Methods: Raw
Cooked
Dynamic Accumulator: Ca (Calcium)
Mg (Magnesium)
S (Sulfur)
Fe (Iron)
Mn (Manganese)
Si (Silicon)
Wildlife Attractant: Birds
Propagation: Seeds: Self fertile
Pollinators: Wind

Image
Common names
  • Blackseed plantain
  • Rugel's Plantain

Photo Gallery
Location: Aberdeen, NC Pages Lake park
Date: June 26, 2022
Blackseed Plantain #244; RAB page 977, 172-1-5;  AG page 422, 83-
Location: Aberdeen, NC Pages Lake park
Date: June 26, 2022
Blackseed Plantain #244; RAB page 977, 172-1-5;  AG page 422, 83-
Location: Aberdeen, NC Pages Lake park
Date: June 26, 2022
Blackseed Plantain #244; RAB page 977, 172-1-5;  AG page 422, 83-
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (May 2022)
Date: 2022-05-08
Location: Aberdeen, NC Pages Lake park
Date: July 4, 2022
Blackseed Plantain #244; RAB page 977, 172-1-5;  AG page 422, 83-
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (May 2022)
Date: 2022-05-08

Photo credit: Frank Mayfield
Comments:
  • Posted by Cyclaminist (Minneapolis, Minnesota - Zone 5a) on May 30, 2016 10:30 AM concerning plant:
    This is an eastern and central North American species very similar to the European species, Plantain (Plantago major) . According to Minnesota Wildflowers, the native has purple bases to the leaf stalks and more elongated seed pods. Illinois Wildflowers mentions that the seed pods on the native species split open at the bottom, while the seed pods on the European species split open in the middle. The leaf stem and blade on the native are sometimes longer, up to 14 inches instead of 11 inches, but that's rare when the plants are growing in a regularly mown lawn.

    I took a look at the plantains in my lawn, and so far it looks like I only have the native.
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