Broadleaf Plantain (as Food)

Plantago major

Illustration: Broadleaf plantain (Plantago major) rosette and flower spikes

Identification: Basal rosette of broad oval leaves with parallel ribs; slender leafless flower spikes. The sidewalk-crack weed.

Dangerous look-alikes: No toxic look-alike with the parallel-ribbed basal rosette.

Edible parts: Young leaves (raw or cooked); seeds (psyllium-like).

Season and habitat: Spring–summer. Lawns, paths, disturbed ground.

Preparation: Young leaves in salads (mild) or cooked like spinach; older leaves are stringy — remove ribs. Seeds ground as a fiber supplement.

Notes: Cross-reference: the poultice/medicinal entry is in More Remedies — this plate reuses that illustration.

plantain