|
 |
 |
|
| Plantago debilis (Plantaginaceae)
3:560 |
|
|
|
Plantago
debilis (shade plantain) is small, rare,
native rosette herb with a slender taproot. It grows in the
understorey of both wet and dry forests in the north-east.
The leaves are about 3-6cm long, mostly more than 1cm wide
and either hairless or with scattered hairs on both
surfaces. They have thick petioles almost as long as the
blades. The leaves are held at least partly upright and have
short white or yellow-brown hairs at the bases of the
leaves. Unlike most Plantago species, the
flowers are quite well separated on the flower spikes. It is
one of a group of similar species. The very common
species, P. varia,
and the rare grassland species,
P. gaudichaudiana, have long reddish hairs at
the bases of the leaves. The leaves of those species are
usually larger. P.
hispida has dense spikes and narrower leaves. P. antarctica is
an alpine species.
|
|
|
University of Tasmania
