Plantago amplexicaulis
Cav.
Ispaghul
(c) John Pereira, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by John Pereira
(c) Ron Frumkin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ron Frumkin
(c) John Pereira, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by John Pereira
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Seeds
Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.
Where to Find It
It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in rocky places and on waste ground. It grows in the Sahara.
Africa, Asia, Europe, India, Italy, Mediterranean, Morocco, North Africa, Pakistan, Spain,
How to Identify
A low herb. It is an annual plant and green. It has few hairs. The leaves are narrowly oval and broadest above the middle. There are 3-5 faint veins.
How to Grow
Succeeds in any moderately fertile soil in a sunny position. This species is sold in local markets in India as a medicinal plant.
Propagation: Seed - sow in spring in a cold frame. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and plant out in early summer. A direct sowing outdoors in situ can be made in mid to late spring if sufficient seed is available.
Medicinal Uses
The dried seeds are demulcent, febrifuge, ophthalmic, and pectoral, used in the treatment of intestinal complaints and as a demulcent in dysentery. Plantain seeds contain up to 30% mucilage, which swells in the gut and acts as a bulk laxative while soothing irritated membranes; sometimes the husks are used without the seeds. The leaves are astringent and said to be useful for intermittent fevers and pulmonary complaints. An infusion of the leaves is applied to the eyes in the treatment of ophthalmia.
Other Uses
None known
Wikipedia
Source ↗Plantago amplexicaulis is an annual plant of the family Plantaginaceae and the genus Plantago that grows in dry sand and deserts. Plantago amplexicaulis is a therophyte, a type of plant that survives as seed during unfavourable conditions. In the deserts where P. amplexicaulis lives, this results in the desert suddenly bursting into bloom after a rainstorm.
Notes
The plantains or Plantaginaceae are mostly in temperate regions. There are about 165 Plantago species.
Names & Synonyms
Lyelma, Lesnab
References (6)
- Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 466
- Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 422
- Flora of Pakistan. www.eFloras.org
- Icon. 2(1):22, t. 125. 1793
- Nassif, F., & Tanji, A., 2013, Gathered food plants in Morocco: The long forgotten species in Ethnobotanical Research. Life Science Leaflets 3:17-54
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
