Broadleaf Plantain / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible

Common Names

Broadleaf plantain, White man’s footprint 

Botanical Name

Plantago major

Scientific Classification

Kingdom – Plantae

Order –Lamiales

Family – Plantaginaceae

Physical Characteristics for  Broadleaf plantain

The plant is a rosette-forming perennial herb, with leafless, silky, hairy flower stems.

Leaves

The basal leaves are oval, smooth edged and 5-20cm long by 4-9cm wide. They grow in a rosette, sometimes upright but often flat on the ground especially on trampled or mown areas. Each leaf has strong parallel veins narrowed to short petiole.

Flowers & Seeds

the flower stem grows upright, 5-15cm long and narrow and clustered densely with small flowers,typically 1mm across. They are greenish brown with purple stamens, quickly swelling to form green seeds 

Habitat

Found in Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Spain, northern and central Asia. Grassland, roadsides etc, a common weed of lawns and cultivated ground, on neutral and basic soils. it grows as introduced weed across most of the world, and particularly thrives on compacted soil where it’s often trampled – hence the Native American name of white-mans footprint. 

Known Hazards 

No known hazards

Could be Confused with

Other members of the Plantain family, such as Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), but they are all edible and have similar uses

Edible Uses

Young leaves – raw or cooked. They are rather bitter and very tedious to prepare, the fibrous strands are best removed prior to eating. The very young leaves are somewhat better and are less fibrous.

Seed – cooked. Used like sago. The seed can be ground into a powder and added to flours when making bread, cakes or whatever. 

Notes on Herbal uses

Broadleaf plantain is very nutritious, containing high levels of calcium, and 100g of plantain contains approximately the same amount of beta-carotene as a small carrot. 

The leaf has antiseptic and antihistamine properties, leaves contain mucilage, tannin and silic acid. An extract of them has antibacterial properties. They are used externally in treating skin inflammations, malignant ulcers, cuts, stings etc. The heated leaves are used as a wet dressing for wounds, swellings etc and to stop bleeding. The root was used for fever and respiratory problems. 

Extra notes from the Foragers

The mature plant contains pliable and tough fibres that can be used in survival situations to make small cords, fishing line, sutures, or braiding.