Buck's-horn Plantain

Plantago coronopus

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

Plant Data

Flowering Months:

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

Order:

Lamiales

Family:

Plantaginaceae (Plantain)

Also in this family:

Common Marestail, Cornish Moneywort, Crested Field Speedwell, Fairy Foxglove, Greater Plantain, Green Field Speedwell, Grey Field Speedwell, Hedge Veronica, Hoary Plantain, Italian Toadflax, Koromiko, Marsh Speedwell, Mountain Speedwell, Ribwort Plantain, Sea Plantain, Shoreweed, Slender Speedwell, Straw Foxglove, Weasel's Snout

Type:

Flower

Life Cycle:

Annual or Perennial

Maximum Size:

20 centimetres tall

Habitats:

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

Flower:

Brown, 4 petals

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.

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.

Frequency (UK):

Common

Distribution Map

Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

Click to open an Interactive Map