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Ribwort
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| Ribwort Photos | Family name: Plantain (Plantaginaceae) |
| Scientific Name: | Plantago lanceolata |  Ribwort plant Photo: A J Brown |
Other Common Names: | Ribgrass, Lamb’s-tongue, Plantain | |
Status: | Native of Europe and Central Asia. Naturalised to many parts of the world, including Australia. | |
Plant Description: | An annual or biennial herb with a thick and persistent taproot. The leaves are densely to sparsely covered in silky hairs and arise from a short, broad crown, which in mown lawn situations, gives the appearance of a ‘flatweed’. Leaves are lanceolate (spear-shaped) to elliptic, 8-20 cm long and 10-30 mm wide with a few minute marginal teeth and 5 prominent and parallel veins. Flower stalks (scapes) are up to 45 cm high and longitudinally ridged. Flower-heads are ovoid to cylindrical spikes, 1-12 cm long. Fruit is a capsule 3-4 mm long. | |
Habitat: | A common garden weed and weed of waste places and cultivation. Has moderate waterlogging tolerance but is not tolerant of salinity. Has good drought tolerance. | |
Comments: | Ribwort has been used for medicinal purposes in parts of the world. It is currently being developed as a fodder crop in temperate Australia. There are about 20 species of Plantain found in Victoria, including both Australian native and introduced exotics. Of these, only Buck’s-horn Plantain (Plantago coronopus) appears to tolerate saline conditions, although some, such as Greater Plantain (P. major) may be able to survive in short-term brackish waters. | |
 Ribwort Flower-head Photo: A J Brown |  Base of Ribwort plant Photo: A J Brown |
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