Seaside plantain, seaside plantain, goose-tongue • Plantago maritima ssp. juncoides
{Plantago = foot-sole, a reference to the way the leaves of some plantain species lie against the ground}
Identification
Seaside plantain is a fleshy perennial with one to many flowering stems and numerous long, thin basal leaves. The stems are usually unbranched. Its tiny greenish flowers form a dense spike, 2-10 cm long, atop each stem. Once done flowering, these spikes bear egg-shaped or conical capsules. Seaside plantain grows to 25 cm tall.
Habitat & Range
Seaside plantain grows along sandy and gravelly beaches and in salt marshes. It is a common species in coastal BC, and is found on coastlines of North and South America. The subspecies maritima is found in Eurasia.
Similar Species
Alaska plantain (Plantago macrocarpa) may be found on beaches and in tidal marshes, but can be distinguished by its wider, less fleshy leaves.
Human Uses
The fleshy, salty leaves are edible, and are often canned for later use.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67812-Plantago-maritima-juncoides
Seaside plantain is a fleshy perennial with one to many flowering stems and numerous long, thin basal leaves. The stems are usually unbranched. Its tiny greenish flowers form a dense spike, 2-10 cm long, atop each stem. Once done flowering, these spikes bear egg-shaped or conical capsules. Seaside plantain grows to 25 cm tall.
Habitat & Range
Seaside plantain grows along sandy and gravelly beaches and in salt marshes. It is a common species in coastal BC, and is found on coastlines of North and South America. The subspecies maritima is found in Eurasia.
Similar Species
Alaska plantain (Plantago macrocarpa) may be found on beaches and in tidal marshes, but can be distinguished by its wider, less fleshy leaves.
Human Uses
The fleshy, salty leaves are edible, and are often canned for later use.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67812-Plantago-maritima-juncoides
References
Plantago maritima L. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 14/01/2015.
Pojar, J. and MacKinnon, A. (1994). Plants of Coastal British Columbia. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine Publishing. P. 328.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell, Ian Cruickshank, and Brian Starzomski (2015).
Plantago maritima L. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 14/01/2015.
Pojar, J. and MacKinnon, A. (1994). Plants of Coastal British Columbia. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine Publishing. P. 328.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell, Ian Cruickshank, and Brian Starzomski (2015).