Plantago coronopus L.

Spice In the field Inflorescence

Family: PLANTAGINACEAE

Genus: Plantago

Catalan common name: Cervina.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Holoartica

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte. Terophyte.

Habitats: Litoral marshes and riparian. Rocky coastlines. Therophytic calicole fields. Therophytic silicolous fields. Salty soils. Theropytic communities.

Characteristics: Small plant in the form of a basal leaf rosette. Leaves are very polymorphic, usually pinnatipartite or pinnatifide, (fins 20 cm.). The inflorescences are terminal and form a floral spike of small compact flowers. Can be mistaken for P. bellardii, with leaves more entire and sword shaped.

Observations: Many different subspecies have been described for this species. The use of botanical key is indispensable for further definition, as the identification and differential characteristics is complex in nature.