Distinguishing Features. Broadleaf plantain has green, oval to egg-shaped leaves that grow in a rosette. These leaves have thick stems that meet at a base. When these stems are broken, they reveal string-like veins that resemble those in celery.
How do you identify a plantain leaf?
Plantain has oval-shaped medium leaves that grow in broad, low rosettes. If left to flower, tall, thin spikes with tiny flowers appear, which then produce tiny seeds that are easily spread by the wind to other parts of your yard. If you want to control this plant, dig them out before these flower spikes appear.
How can you tell which plantain is greater?
The leaves are broad, oval shaped and grow in a rosette, sometimes with very fine, sparse, white hairs. The parallel veins are very distinctive in the plantain family and run from the bottom of the leaf to the top without visably branching.
Is broadleaf plantain safe to eat?
The broadleaf plantain weeds that you find in your yard can be eaten entirely, but the young leaves are the tastiest. Use these raw in any way you would spinach, such as in salads and sandwiches. You can also use the older leaves raw, but they tend to be more bitter and stringy.
What are the two types of plantain?
Two groups of plantains are thought to have a common origin: the horn plantain and the French plantain. Both types grow in India, Africa, Egypt, and tropical America. The French plantains also occur in Indonesia and the islands of the Pacific.
Are all plantain plants edible?
There are over 200 species of plantain within the genus Plantago, and, as far as I know, all are edible.
Does plantain have any poisonous look alikes?
Plantain has very few natural look-alikes, and the plants that do resemble Plantago are all non-toxic. Yet another reason why plantain is such a beginner-friendly plant! Hostas, which are sometimes called plantain lilies, are similar in appearance and their leaves and shoots can also be eaten.
Is broadleaf plantain poisonous to dogs?
No, broadleaf Plantain is not poisonous to dogs.
Studies have shown broadleaf Plantain to treat digestive tract problems as well as chronic diarrhea. Like Plantain itself, broadleaf Plantain is also packed full of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients and they are safe to eat.
How many types of plantain are there?
Plantain, Plantago major, was considered to be one of the nine sacred herbs by the ancient Saxon people, and has been celebrated in Anglo-Saxon poetry as the “mother of herbs.” There are more than 200 species of plantain and nearly as many recorded uses for this humble herb.
How can you tell if a plantain is narrow leaf?
Another way to distinguish the two weeds is to look at the brown fruits. Narrow-leaved plantain seeds are clustered closer to the tip of the stem while broad-leaved plantain seeds are much further down the stem. The plantains tend not to have a standard tap-root like the other flat-weeds.
What is broadleaf plantain used for?
Apart from its antimicrobial and antioxidant attributes, broadleaf plantain has been documented to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. It also has been shown to boost the immune system and to help treat ulcers, diarrhea and fatigue.
Where does broadleaf plantain grow?
Where Broadleaf Plantain Grows. Broadleaf plantain is native to Europe and temperate parts of Asia. It (and other plantain species) have spread to most of the world, except the arctic regions. They grow throughout most of the United States and North America.
How do you cook broadleaf plantain?
Cooking Plantain Leaves. Blanch the leaves to soften them. Place the plantain leaves in a wire strainer and lower them into a pot of boiling water. Heat the leaves for 3-5 minutes, then remove them and plunge them into a bath of cold water to stop the cooking process.
What is white man’s footstep?
Plantain does particularly well in compacted or disturbed soils and can survive repeated trampling. Native Americans called it “white man’s footprint” because it appeared and thrived in disturbed areas around European settlements. Its roots work to break up hardpan soil and can help stop erosion.
What is the difference between plantain and plantain?
It’s easy to confuse a plantain with a banana because they look so much alike. However, if you were to substitute a plantain for a banana in a recipe, you may be surprised by its very different taste.
They’re both very nutritious.
| Bananas | Plantains | |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin C | 9 mg | 18 mg |
Is broadleaf plantain invasive?
broadleaf plantain: Plantago major (Plantaginales: Plantaginaceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. Plantago major L. Plantago major is a perennial from a basal rosette with broad oval leaves. Smooth or slightly hairy, oval to elliptic, with a waxy surface and veins that are parallel to the margins.
Are green and yellow plantains the same?
When shopping, you may come across both green and yellow plantains. They are the same fruit, but the color of the skin indicates the plantain’s ripeness. At its peak of ripeness, a plantain’s skin will be dull yellow with black patches, or completely black.
Can you eat narrow leaf plantain leaves?
The leaves of the equally ubiquitous narrow-leaf plantain, or Plantago lanceolata, also are edible when young. The shoot is “edible” only with quotation marks. You can eat the seeds should you have the patience to collect hundreds of plants for the handful of seeds you’d harvest.
Are all plantain weeds edible?
Although often considered weeds, these plants all have edible leaves and seeds that have been used medicinally for centuries ( 1 ).
Can you eat black seed plantain?
The Yard Plantain’s young leaves can be eaten raw, but larger leaves get tough and stringy so they are better when cooked. The roots and seeds can also be eaten, usually cooked, but I like eating the seed stalks raw. The seeds can be removed from the stalks easily and cooked whole for a starchy meal.
Can chickens eat broadleaf plantain?
High Nutritional Value: Plantain leaves are edible and contain high amounts of vitamins A and C and is also a rich source of calcium. Anticoccidial: Plantain has showed promise as an effective means of controlling invasion by Eimeria tenella, the organism responsible for causing coccidiosis in chickens.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.