Family: Plantaginaceae
Author: Decne.
Bibliography: A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 13(1): 722 (1852)
Year: 1852
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Plantago
Vegetable: False
Observations: C. & S. U.S.A. to N. & E. Mexico, Bahamas
Description
The Redseed Plantain, scientifically known as Plantago rhodosperma, is a species first recorded by the botanist Decne. and extensively documented in A.P. de Candolle’s Prodromus (volume 13, part 1, page 722) in 1852. Belonging to the family Plantaginaceae, this plant is notable for its distinctive red seeds, from which its common name is derived.
This robust species thrives across a range of landscapes in Central and Southern parts of the United States, stretching its quiet yet impactful presence into Northern and Eastern Mexico and the Bahamas. Adaptable to various climates and soil types, the Redseed Plantain has become an integral component of its native ecosystem.
Characteristically, Plantago rhodosperma exhibits rosettes of basal leaves, typically lanceolate in shape, that grow close to the ground. The plant’s flowering spikes rise tall and erect from the center, bearing a series of small, densely packed flowers. These flowers eventually give rise to the reddish seeds that are a hallmark of the species.
Redseed Plantain serves several ecological roles in its habitats, providing nutrition for various pollinators including insects that depend on its flowers. The seeds, sometimes distributed by wind or animal activity, contribute to the plant’s widespread dispersal and continual propagation in its native regions.
In addition to its ecological contributions, this species has been explored for its potential uses in traditional medicine, where other members of the Plantaginaceae family are known for their beneficial properties. While the focus of most research has predominantly been on its more common relatives, the Redseed Plantain itself holds promise worthy of further exploration.
Whether respected for its utility in the natural environment or admired for the subtle beauty it brings to the flora of the American Midwest and the bordering regions, Plantago rhodosperma underscores the rich biodiversity found in these areas. This unassuming, yet resilient plant continues to thrive as a testament to the adaptability and inherent value of native plants.
Common Names
Eng: redseed plantain
En: Redseed plantain, Red-Seed Plantain, Redseed Indianwheat
Synonyms
- Plantago rhodosperma var. macrocalyx (Pilg.)
- Plantago rhodosperma var. echioides ((Decne.) Pilg.)
- Plantago virginica var. pectinata (Kuntze)
- Plantago rubra (A.M.Cunn.)
- Plantago echioides (Decne.)
Distribution
- Alabama (native)
- Arizona (native)
- Arkansas (native)
- Bahamas (native)
- California (native)
- Georgia (native)
- Kansas (native)
- Louisiana (native)
- Mexico Gulf (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Mexico Northwest (native)
- Mississippi (native)
- Missouri (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- New Mexico (native)
- Oklahoma (native)
- Tennessee (native)
- Texas (native)
- Cape Provinces (introduced)
- Illinois (introduced)
- Kentucky (introduced)
Additional Images
Leaf
Taken Apr 26, 2020 by stefano (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 26, 2015 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Mar 26, 2015 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)
Habit
Taken Mar 26, 2015 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Mar 26, 2015 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Mar 26, 2015 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Mar 26, 2015 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Mar 26, 2015 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)
Bark
Taken Nov 11, 2013 by EOL − Ben VanderWeide (cc-by-nc)
Flower
Taken Mar 26, 2015 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Mar 26, 2015 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Mar 26, 2015 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Mar 26, 2015 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Mar 26, 2015 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3189717)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:685592-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Plantago rhodosperma Decne.)
Specifications
Growth habit>: Forb/herb
