Plantago lanceolata - Ribwort Plantain

Family:	Plantaginaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.45
Width:	0.2
Synonyms:
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Spain, northern and central Asia.

Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.45m and a width of 0.2m . It has a hardness rating of 6and is vunerable to frost.
Ribwort Plantain will flower in October to February. the seeds ripen from December to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Wind, flies, beetles

Soil Information

Ribwort Plantain will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Ribwort Plantain prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Ribwort Plantain should not be planted in shady areas.

Grassland, roadsides etc, a common weed of lawns and cultivated ground, on neutral and basic soils[9, 17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Planted in the lawn
• Suits a meadow

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[200]. Plants also succeed in very poor land[4]. An important food plant for the caterpillars of many species of butterflies[30].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
Young leaves - raw or cooked[12, 46, 61]. They are rather bitter and very tedious to prepare, the fibrous strands are best removed prior to eating[9, 183]. The very young leaves are somewhat better and are less fibrous[K]. Seed - cooked. Used like sago[177, 183]. The seed can be ground into a powder and added to flours when making bread, cakes or whatever.

• Leaves -
• Seed - includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 3/5
Ribwort plantain is a safe and effective treatment for bleeding, it quickly staunches blood flow and encourages the repair of damaged tissue[254]. The leaves contain mucilage, tannin and silic acid[244]. An extract of them has antibacterial properties[240]. They have a bitter flavour and are astringent, demulcent, mildly expectorant, haemostatic and ophthalmic[9, 13, 21, 145, 165, 222, 244, 254]. Internally, they are used in the treatment of a wide range of complaints including diarrhoea, gastritis, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, haemorrhage, haemorrhoids, cystitis, bronchitis, catarrh, sinusitis, asthma and hay fever[238, 254]. They are used externally in treating skin inflammations, malignant ulcers, cuts, stings etc[4]. The heated leaves are used as a wet dressing for wounds, swellings etc[213, 222]. The root is a remedy for the bite of rattlesnakes, it is used in equal portions with Marrubium vulgare[207]. The seeds are used in the treatment of parasitic worms[213]. Plantain seeds contain up to 30% mucilage which swells up in the gut, acting as a bulk laxative and soothing irritated membranes[238]. Sometimes the seed husks are used without the seeds[238]. A distilled water made from the plant makes an excellent eye lotion[7].

• Antibacterial - Kills bacteria.
• Antidote - Counters poisoning.
• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Demulcent - Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes.
• Expectorant - Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
• Haemostatic - Controls internal bleeding.
• Laxative - Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.
• Ophthalmic - Treats eye complaints.
• Poultice - A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer. A sowing can be made outdoors in situ in mid to late spring if you have enough seeds.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

A good fibre is obtained from the leaves[4], it is said to be suitable for textiles[115]. A mucilage from the seed coats is used as a fabric stiffener[4]. It is obtained by macerating the seed in hot water[100, 115]. Gold and brown dyes are obtained from the whole plant[168].

• Dye - Plants that provide dyes.
• Fibre - Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.
• Starch - Used as a fabric stiffener.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

DISCLAIMER: All information published on AussieGardening.com.au is for entertainment purposes only. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information contained here with other sources. The information is not intended to replace medical advice offered by doctors or dietary advice by dieticians. AussieGardening.com.au will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other damages arising therefrom.