Biology:Plantago debilis

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Short description: Species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae

Plantago debilis
Plantago debilis - Flickr - Kevin Thiele.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Plantago
Species:
P. debilis
Binomial name
Plantago debilis

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] The specific epithet, debilis, is a Latin adjective, L. debilis,-is,-e, meaning "weak", "feeble", "frail".[7]

Distribution and habitat

It is native to Australia , occurring in every state and territory.[8] It favours moist sandy soils.[1][2]

Aboriginal uses

The Noongar people of south west Western Australia heated and crushed the leaves to give a liquid that was used to make poultices for sprains, ulcers, and boils.[9]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Plantago debilis R.Br.". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/7299. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 R.Br.. "New South Wales Flora Online: Plantago debilis". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Plantago~debilis. 
  3. "Plantago debilis R.Br.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?taxon_id=24186. 
  4. "Plantago varia var. parviflora Benth.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?taxon_id=24976. 
  5. "Plantago debilis var. parviflora (Benth.) Pilg.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?taxon_id=24203. 
  6. "Plantago debilis R.Br. var. debilis". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?taxon_id=24196. 
  7. "debilis,-is,-e". http://www.plantillustrations.org/epithet.php?id_epithet=210505%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class=. 
  8. {{citation | mode = cs1 | title = Plantago debilis R.Br. | work = Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) | url = https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?447766 | publisher = [[Organization:Agricultural Research ServAgricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) | access-date = }}
  9. Hansen, V.; Horsefall, J. (2016). Noongar Bush Medicine Medicinal plants of the south-west of Western Australia. Crawley, WA: University of Western Australia. pp. 123. ISBN 9781742589060. 

External list

Wikidata ☰ Q7201568 entry