Scientific name(s)
Plantago lanceolata
Strengths
- Fast establishing
- Tolerant of drought and low fertility
- Excellent feeding value including summer
Limitations
- Susceptible to broad leaf herbicides
- Slow growth in winter
Plant description
Plant: erect, leafy, perennial herb with a deep, dense, branching fibrous root system
Leaves: rosette of broad leaves from central crown. Leaves up to 25 cm long, often purplish at the base and each with 3 - 5 longitudinal ribs. Fine hairs on upper surface; hairy along the lower side ribs
Flowers: tiny, four parted, creamy-white flowers with long stamens. Flowers during midsummer. Flower stems are erect, furrowed, leafless, and up to 50 cm long
Seedhead: a single spike per stem, up to 2.5 cm long, cone-shaped or cylindrical, very compact grey-green turning dark brown-black on ripening
Seeds: ~ 1 mm and oval; black-brown. 500,000/kg
Pasture type and use
Valuable component of permanent pastures and specialist summer pastures
Where it grows
Rainfall
>600 mm
Soils
Tolerates a broad range of soil types, fertility and pH.
Temperature
Wide climate adaption; tolerant of frost; relatively heat tolerant.
Establishment
Companion species
Grasses: phalaris, cocksfoot, tall fescue, Bromus spp
Legumes: sub, white and red clover
Fodder crops: Brassica spp.
Sowing/planting rates as single species
5 - 10 kg/ha.
Sowing/planting rates in mixtures
5-10 with specialist clover pastures2- 4 kg/ha with grass pastures or Brassica fodder spp.
Sowing time
Sow in autumn/spring after pre-emergent weed control
Inoculation
Not applicable
Fertiliser
Sow with ~10-15 kg P/ha
Management
Maintenance fertliser
10 kg P/ha
Grazing/cutting
Can tolerate continuous and close grazing. Graze rotationally to gain maximum production. A 3-4 week rotation in late spring will maintain seed head palatability. Can use for silage/hay.
Seed production
Free seeding
Ability to spread
Yes. Regenerates from self-sown seed. Is a widely naturalised species
Weed potential
Pollen contains allergens associated with asthma and bronchitis
Major pests
Red-legged earthmite, slugs, snails
Major diseases
-
Herbicide susceptibility
Glyphosate and phenoxy-based chemicals (2,4-D, MCPA)
Animal production
Feeding value
Good quality feed - see grazing note re late spring. High mineral concentrations inclu copper, zinc, selenium, cobalt. This widely used medicinal herb contains various secondary metabolites with recognised tonic and anti-biotic properties; these may benefit stock/rumen flora
Palatability
Highly palatable
Production potential
Good spring-autumn production
Livestock disorders/toxicity
-
Cultivars
| Cultivar | Seed source/Information |
| Grasslands Lancelot | PGG Seeds |
Ceres Tonic | PGG Seeds |
Denotes that this variety is protected by Plant Breeder's Rights Australia
Further information
Weblink:NSWDPI - Narrow leaf plantain
Acknowledgements
PGG Seeds, DPIs
Author and date
K. Reed
March 2009
