Plantago debilis is a species of herb native to Australia. Common names include shade plantain and weak plantain.

Plantago debilis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Plantago
Species:
P. debilis
Binomial name
Plantago debilis

Description

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It grows as an annual or perennial herb up to 20 centimetres high, with green or white flowers and a slender taproot.[1][2]

Taxonomy

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This species was first published by Robert Brown in his 1810 Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae. In 1916 Joseph Maiden and Ernst Betche demoted it to a variety of P. varia, but this was not accepted.[3]

Two varieties have been published, but it is unclear whether they are still recognised. P. debilis var. parvifolia was published as P. varia var. parvifolia by George Bentham in 1870.[4] In 1937 Robert Pilger transferred it to P. debilis,[5] thus implicitly publishing the autonym P. debilis var. debilis.[6] The specific epithet, debilis, is a Latin adjective, L. debilis,-is,-e, meaning "weak", "feeble", "frail".[7]

Distribution and habitat

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It is native to Australia, occurring in every state and territory.[8] It favours moist sandy soils.[1][2]

Aboriginal uses

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The Noongar people of south west Western Australia heated and crushed the leaves to give a liquid that was used to make poultices for sprains, ulcers, and boils.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Plantago debilis R.Br". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  2. ^ a b R.Br. "New South Wales Flora Online: Plantago debilis". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
  3. ^ "Plantago debilis R.Br". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  4. ^ "Plantago varia var. parviflora Benth". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  5. ^ "Plantago debilis var. parviflora (Benth.) Pilg". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  6. ^ "Plantago debilis R.Br. var. debilis". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  7. ^ "debilis,-is,-e". www.plantillustrations.org. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  8. ^ "Plantago debilis R.Br". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
  9. ^ Hansen, V.; Horsefall, J. (2016). Noongar Bush Medicine Medicinal plants of the south-west of Western Australia. Crawley, WA: University of Western Australia. p. 123. ISBN 9781742589060.

External list

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