Plantago debilis is a species of herb native to Australia. Common names include shade plantain and weak plantain.

Plantago debilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Plantaginaceae
Genus:	Plantago
Species:	P. debilis
Binomial name
Plantago debilis R.Br.

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

External list

• Plantago debilis occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium