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Similar Plantago aristata, Plantago cordata, Plantago elongata, Plantago virginica, Plantago patagonica | ||
Plantago rugelii is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. It is native to North America, where it occurs in eastern Canada and the central and eastern United States. Its common names include American plantain, blackseed plantain, pale plantain, and Rugel's plantain. The generic name Plantago is from the Latin planta ("footprint") and the species name rugelii honors Ferdinand Ignatius Xavier Rugel (1806-1879), a German-born botanist and pharmacist.
Description
This perennial herb grows from a taproot and fibrous root system. It produces a basal rosette of wide oval leaves with longitudinal veining and a somewhat waxy texture. The base of the petiole may be reddish or purple. A scape bears clusters of whitish flowers. The fruit is a capsule about half a centimeter long containing several seeds. It splits down the middle. Plantago major is very similar, but it lacks the red tinge on the petioles and its leaves are darker and waxier.
It commonly grows in disturbed habitat, such as lawns. It can be a weed of turf.
