Plantago elongata is a species of plantain known by the common names prairie plantain and slender plantain.
It is native to much of western North America, from British Columbia to California and as far east as Minnesota. It grows in wet habitats, such as vernal pools and wet meadows, including areas with saline and alkali soils, such as beaches.
Description Plantago elongata is a petite annual herb producing a few narrow linear or threadlike basal leaves up to long.
The stemlike inflorescences grow erect to a maximum height around . Atop the peduncle of the inflorescence is a spike of several tiny flowers each with a rounded or oval calyx of sepals covered with thick, fleshy green bracts.
Taxonomy Plantago elongata was given its scientific name in 1813 by Frederick Traugott Pursh. It is classified in the genus Plantago as part of the Plantaginaceae family. It has no accepted subspecies or varieties, but has several among its eleven heterotypic synonyms.
Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Plantago bigelovii 1857 species Plantago bigelovii subsp. californica 1966 subspecies Plantago californica 1885 species Plantago elongata var. bigelovii 1972 variety Plantago elongata var. californica 1972 variety Plantago elongata subsp. pentasperma 1966 subspecies Plantago elongata var. pentasperma 1972 variety Plantago hookeriana var. californica 1928 variety Plantago linearifolia 1824 species Plantago myosuroides 1900 species Plantago patagonica var. rosulata 1901 variety
Range Plantago elongata is native to Canada from British Colombia to Manitoba. In the United States it is native to the states west of Texas and North Dakota with the exception of Nevada, and also to the state of Minnesota. It is also native to the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It is an introduced species in South Africa.
References
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment Photo gallery