Buck's-horn Plantain

Plantago coronopus

Plant Data

Order:

Lamiales

Family:

Plantaginaceae (Plantain)

Flowering Months:

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Flowers:

2-4cm dense unbranched greenish-brown spikes. Yellow anthers.

Fruit:

A membranous fruit capsule, containing anything up to 5 seeds.

Leaves:

The name of this plant is derived from the shape of its leaves. They are said to resemble deer's antlers. The leaves are pale green, lance-shaped, up to 25cm long and 2.5cm wide. The leaf veins (3 to 5) run parallel to the edge of the leaves. The leaves taper into leaf stalks at their bases. The margins of the leaves may be smooth or slightly toothed.

Maximum Size:

20cm tall.

Foraging Notes:

The young leaves can be eaten, raw or cooked. The tender leaves are bitter-tasting.
Never consume a wild plant unless you are 100% certain that it is safe to eat and you know that you have identified it correctly.

Other Names:

Black Plantain, Black-jacks, Buck Plantain, Buckhorn, Chimney-sweeps, Cocks, English Plantain, Headsman, Hen Plant, Jackstraw, Kemps, Lamb's Tongue, Lance-leaved Plantain, Long Plantain, Narrow-leaved Plantain, Rat-tail, Ribblegrass, Rib-grass, Ripplegrass, Small Plantain, Snake Plantain, Soldier's Herb, Stag's-horn Plantain, Wendles.

Habitats:

Beaches, cliffs, farmland, grassland, lawns, roadsides, rocks, saltmarshes, sea cliffs, seaside, wasteland.