Plantago eriopoda is a species of plantain known by the common name redwool plantain. It is native to much of western and central North America from Alaska to the southwestern United States to the Great Lakes region, where it can be found in moist and wet habitat types, sometimes in alkaline soils. It is a perennial herb producing a clump of lance-shaped to narrow oval leaves up to 25 centimeters long. The leaves may have slightly toothed edges and often have a coating of woolly red hairs near their bases. The stemlike inflorescences grow erect to a maximum height near half a meter. Atop the peduncle of the inflorescence is a dense cylindrical spike of many tiny flowers. Each flower has a whitish corolla with four lobes each about a millimeter long accompanied by sepals covered with small bracts.
Taxonomy Plantago eriopoda was scientifically described and named by John Torrey in 1827. It is part of the genus Plantago which is classified in the Plantaginaceae family. It has no accepted forms, but three have been described that are heterotypic synonyms along with seven other taxa.
Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Notes Plantago attenuata 1823 species nom. illeg. Plantago cucullata 1813 species nom. illeg. Plantago eriopoda f. angustior 1937 form Plantago eriopoda f. latior 1937 form Plantago eriopoda f. maxima 1937 form Plantago glabra 1818 species Plantago lanceolata var. latifolia 1838 variety Plantago oblongifolia 1852 species Plantago retrorsa 1901 species Plantago shastensis 1901 species Plantago virescens 1845 species
References
External links Jepson Manual Treatment Southwest Colorado Wildflowers