Plantago media 'Hoary Plantain'

[Ex. Yorkshire, England]

Plantaginaceae: persistent, downy perennial of lawns and trampled grassland, mainly on calcareous soils. The attractive flowers are whitish and the anthers lilac, on slender spikes up to 20cm long, from May-August. The greyish, narrowly ovate. Widespread and fairly common in England, but scarce or even absent from the rest of the country. Native to most Europe, including Britain, to temperate Asia.

USES:

The young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, the very young leaves have a fairly mild flavour but with a slight bitterness, and can be used in salads before they become tough. The inflorescence is sweet with nectar and is sucked if desired.

The leaves, flowering stems and roots are somewhat astringent, deobstruent, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic, refrigerant and vulnerary. They are applied externally to skin inflammations, malignant ulcers, and cuts. A mouthwash made from the leaves helps to relieve toothache and a distilled water is a good eyewash. The seeds act as a demulcent and laxative.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Best sown from seed in late summer or autumn. Sunny site on well-drained soil.

HARVESTED: 

APPROX. 300+ SEEDS