Plantago media - Hoary Plantain

Family:	Plantaginaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.1
Width:	0.1
Synonyms:
Range:	Southern Europe, including Britain, to temperate Asia.

Plantago media (Hoary Plantain) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.1m and a width of 0.1m . It has a hardness rating of 6and is vunerable to frost.
Hoary Plantain will flower in November to February. the seeds ripen from January to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Wind, flies, beetles, bees

Soil Information

Hoary 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
Hoary Plantain prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Hoary Plantain should not be planted in shady areas.

Fields, meadows and lawns[7]. A common weed of lawns and cultivated land, especially on dry or calcareous soils[1].

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]. Grows well in the spring meadow[24]. An important food plant for the caterpillars of many species of butterflies[30]. The flowers are sweetly scented[245].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
Young leaves - raw or cooked[7]. The very young leaves have a fairly mild flavour but with a slight bitterness[K]. Used in salads before they become tough[7]. The inflorescence is sweet and is sucked by children[177, 183].

• Flowers -
• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
The leaves, flowering stems and roots are somewhat astringent, deobstruent, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic, refrigerant and vulnerary[4, 7]. They are applied externally to skin inflammations, malignant ulcers, cuts etc[4, 7]. A mouthwash made from the leaves helps to relieve toothache and a distilled water is a good eyewash[7]. The seeds are demulcent and laxative[4, 7]. 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].

• 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.
• Deobstruent - Clears obstructions from the natural ducts of the body.
• Depurative - Eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Expectorant - Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
• Haemostatic - Controls internal bleeding.
• Laxative - Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.
• Odontalgic - Treats toothache (temporary measure only) and other problems of the teeth and gums.
• Ophthalmic - Treats eye complaints.
• Refrigerant - Cools the body.

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.

Scented parts of the plants

Flowers : Fresh

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

The leaves are a cure for blight on fruit trees[14].

• Fungicide - Arrests the growth of, or kills, fungi.

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

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