Plantago arenaria Waldst. & Kit. APNI* Synonyms: Plantago scabra Moench APNI*
Plantago indica APNI*
Description: Annual herb, usually 20–30 cm high, pilose; stems elongated, erect, branched, leafy.
Leaves opposite, linear, 2.5–6 cm long, 10–20 mm wide, 1- or 3-veined, margins usually minutely toothed; sessile.
Spikes dense, globose to ovoid, to 2 cm long; peduncles to 8 cm long; lower bracts leaf-like; upper bracts short, ovate, 3–5 mm long. Sepals 3–5 mm long; keel pubescent, broad, 1–2 mm wide. Corolla lobes 1.8–2 mm long.
Capsule ovoid, c. 2 mm long; seeds 2, with a thick mucilaginous layer.
Flowering: November–February
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in disturbed sites; chiefly from Armidale, Tamworth and Bundarra districts.
NSW subdivisions: *NT, *NWS
Other Australian states: *Vic. *S.A.
The mucilaginous seed is used mediinally, under the name 'psillium".
Text by B. G. Briggs
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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