Buckhorn Plantain

Weeds

English plantain, narrow-leaved plantain, rib-grass, ripple plantain, snake plantain, black-jacks, ribwort, dog's-ribs, cat's-cradles, rat-tail, henplant

Plantago lanceolata

Photos

buckhorn plantain5.jpg

Buckhorn plantain is a narrow-leaved perennial that forms a rosette. The 3-10 inch long leaves are less than 1 inch wide and arise from a thick, shallow tap root. Buckhorn plantain is very common in maintained turf but will also survive in meadows and waste areas. It will tolerate mowing and high pH soils. The seed capsules are 1-3 inches long appearing on a leafless stalk that can reach 2 feet in length.

  • Crops Affected: turf

    Management

    Buckhorn plantain is found in many turfgrass environments. It tolerates low mowing heights, compacted or high pH soils and drought conditions. Buckhorn plantain is able to survive in many hostile places but it does not persist in areas of medium to high traffic.

    Similar Species

    Buckhorn plantain is sometimes confused with broadleaf plantain. Both have 3-5 dominant parallel veins on their leaves and form a basal rosette. Buckhorn leaves are much more elongated (lanceolate) than the oval to eliptical leaves of broadleaf plantain.

    The flower spikes of broadleaf plantain cover the entire stalk all the way to the base of the plant, whereas the flower spikes on buckhorn plantain are on the top of a 1-2 foot leafless stalk.

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