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Not to be confused with the banana-like fruits also called plantain, this cache concerns the members of the Plantaginaceae family. Six species are found in the UK, five are land based while one is aquatic. Pictured is the Ribwort Plantain, Plantago lanceolata – probably the most familiar member of the family. It has long, narrow leaves arranged in a rosette at the base of the stem, and a flowerhead with many small, brownish flowers – the white stalks that form a ring around this are the stamen. These flowerheads are used in a traditional conkers-like game, where they are hit together until one drops off the stem. Another game involves “popping” the flowerhead off the stem by pulling the stem through a loop tied behind the flowerhead – in Scotland this is called “1 o’clock gun” after the cannon shot from Edinburgh castle daily. The leaves are used in herbal teas and remedies, including a traditional remedy for coughs.
The ribwort plantain is often found on verges and disturbed ground, including open pastures. The seed heads provide a valuable source of food for small seed-eating birds in winter.
Plantain