Narrow-leaf Plantain - native (Plantago gaudichaudii)

Family: Plantaginaceae (Plantain family).

Native of southern Australia.

Occurrence: Rarely recorded, and perhaps overlooked because of its resemblance to Variable Plantain.

Identification:

• it has narrow slightly toothed leaves, which are at least 15 times longer than wide
• the leaves may be hairless; if hairs are present some of the hairs are longer than 1mm
• the flowers are not densely packed.

It differs from Variable Plantain (P. varia) in that Variable Plantain has broader leaves.

Name: gaudichaudii: Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupre, botanist on Freycinet's voyage 1817-20.

Variable Plantain. Leaves 5-10 times longer than wide. Leaf hairs are about 1mm long.
Narrow-leaf Plantain. Leaves 15 times or more longer than wide. Some leaf hairs greater than 1mm long.