Plant · GBIF taxon 8208358
ribwort plantain
Plantago lanceolataAlso known as Narrowleaf Plantain, English Plantain, Ribleaf, Lamb's Tongue
Ribwort plantain forms a dense rosette of narrow, lance-shaped leaves marked by strong parallel ribs running along their length. Slender, leafless stalks rise above the foliage in spring and summer, bearing dense brownish flower heads rimmed with tiny white stamens that catch the wind. Long valued in traditional herbal folklore for soothing minor skin irritations, this resilient perennial thrives in heavily trodden paths, grassy meadows, and urban parklands.
WildflowerPerennialWidespread
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Glanville Fritillary Caterpillars
- Grazing Livestock
- Rabbits
ThreatsHerbicides and intensive turf management
HabitatsGrasslands, lawns, roadsides, disturbed soils, pastures
Life spanPerennial (3–12 years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLamiales
- FamilyPlantaginaceae
- GenusPlantago
- SpeciesPlantago lanceolata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Leaf Identification: Look for 3 to 5 prominent parallel veins running along the narrow leaves.
- Stamen Ring: Observe the flower heads in summer to see a halo of delicate white stamens.
Image unavailableHost Plant 
Close Relative (c) lemonsnapp, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-saClose Relative
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