Plantago debilis

Plantago debilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Plantago
Species: P. debilis
Binomial name
Plantago debilis
R.Br.

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

Description

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

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]

Distribution and habitat

It is native to Australia, occurring in every state and territory.[7] It favours moist sandy soils.[1][2]

References

  1. 1 2 "Plantago debilis R.Br.". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
  2. 1 2 New South Wales Flora Online: Plantago debilis by R.Br., 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. ↑ "Plantago debilis R.Br.". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).
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