Variable Plantain - native (Plantago varia)

Family: Plantaginaceae (Plantain family).

Native of south-eastern Australia.

Occurrence: A widespread and common grassland and bushland plant.

Identification: It resembles the ribwort (the widespread lawn weed). Some differences are

• the flowers are slightly separated
• the leaves are toothed with several small teeth.

It differs from Narrow-leaf Plantain (P. gaudichaudii) in that Variable Plantain has broader leaves.

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.

Variable Plantain is a perennial

Photo 1: Variable Plantain. Smiths Reef. 2: Dainty's Lane, Elphinstone. 3 Immature flowers. Rise and Shine, Clydesdale.