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Taxon  Report  
Plantago lanceolata  L.
English plantain,   Narrow leaved plantain,   Ribgrass,   Ribwort
Plantago lanceolata is a perennial herb that is not native to California.
Cal-IPC rating: limited
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
Observation Search
~4993 records in California
redone or more occurrences
within a 7.5-minute quadrangle
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Bloom Period
Genus: Plantago
Family: Plantaginaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Dicot
Jepson eFlora section: eudicot

Wetlands:
Arid West: Equally likely to occur in wetlands and non wetlands
Mountains, Valleys and Coast: Occurs usually in non wetlands, occasionally in wetlands

Habitat: disturbed

Communities: wetland-riparian, weed, characteristic of disturbed places

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + PLANTS + POWO
Alternate Names:
PLANTSPlantago altissima
PLANTSPlantago lanceolata var. sphaerostachya
Information about  Plantago lanceolata from other sources

[Wikipedia] Eurasia native: Plantago lanceolata is native to Eurasia, but has been introduced to North America and many other parts of the world with suitable habitats. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)

[Cal-IPC] Noxious weed: Plantago lanceolata (buckhorn plantain, English plantain) is a perennial forb/herb (family Plantaginaceae) found widespread throughout California. This plant tolerates sand, clay and serpentine soils and thrives in disturbed areas. It is also a common lawn weed. It is considered a noxious weed to both livestock and native plants. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2025. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 03/23/2025).