Common Plantain or Broadleaf Plantain - Plantago major

Also sometimes called broad-leaved plantain, narrow-leaved plantain, or Ribwort Plantain - Plantago lanceolata. Also sometimes called narrow-leaved plantain.

Plantain is a plant that can easily be overlooked. It's not a very flashy-looking plant, but it has a lot if edible and medicinal uses. Plantain is often found in disturbed soils and can be found throughout most of the world. Plantain doesn't have any bright or flashy flowers and grows low to the ground, so this might be part of why it's often overlooked.

Plantain, both common plantain and narrowleaf plantain, have qualities that include being cooling, demulcent, anti-inflammatory, astringent, anti-microbial, alterative, expectorant, and vulnerary. Broadleaf or common plantain and narrowleaf plantain can be used interchangeably.

Plantain Identification