Plantago is a genus of about 200 species of small, inconspicuous plants commonly called plantains. They share this name with the very dissimilar plantain, a kind of banana. Most are herbaceous plants, though a few are subshrubs growing to 60 cm tall. The leaves are sessile, but have a narrow part near the stem which is a pseudo-petiole. They have three or five parallel veins that diverge in the wider part of the leaf. Leaves are broad or narrow, depending on the species. The inflorescences are borne on stalks typically 5-40 cm tall, and can be a short cone or a long spike, with numerous tiny wind-pollinated flowers.

Plantains are used as food plants by the larvae of some species of Lepidoptera - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Plantago.

Uses

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The herb is astringent, anti-toxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, as well as demulcent, expectorant, styptic and diuretic. Externally, a poultice of the leaves is useful for insect bites, poison-ivy rashes, minor sores, and boils. In folklore it is even claimed to be able to cure snakebite (but at least for actually dangerous snakebites this is certainly untrue). Internally, it is used for coughs and bronchitis, as a tea, tincture, or syrup. The broad-leaved varieties are sometimes used as a leaf vegetable for salads, green sauce, et cetera.

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Cornucopiastore (The Cornucopia Store) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:46:34 -0000
Featured Products Plantain Whole Plant (Plantago spp.) 1oz NOW Foods: Our large selection .. http://bit.ly/6sejjw
In temperate regions, Plantago lanceolata has largely the same traditional uses as Plantago major L..
Prota4U (Prota Foundation) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:32:46 -0000
In temperate regions, Plantago lanceolata has largely the same traditional uses as Plantago major L..
Procesos a seguir: ser una bestia salvaje, tomar agua, comer camelia sinensis, y tomar plántago, alejarme de los priones spongiformes y...
RodericusByte (Marco Antonio Rivera) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:51:17 -0000
Procesos a seguir: ser una bestia salvaje, tomar agua, comer camelia sinensis, y tomar plántago, alejarme de los priones spongiformes y...

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