Plantago major complex ABMAY2019/01

[Ashwini Bhatia]

I have been trying to establish the correct identity of our plantago species here. Since it is a difficult genus, it took me quite a while to reach some conclusion. Following our previous conversation I had started with Plantago major as the beginning point. Referring to the excellent Tibetan Medicinal Plants edited by Christa Kletter and Monika Kriechbaum (I found a copy in a Tibetan library here) I started looking first at Plantago depressa because our plants do not always have noticeable broad leaves. Studying the visible characteristics was not enough to rule out depressa so I had to pull out two plants (something I don't enjoy doing) to look at the root structure. I found the younger of the two plants without any rootstock but the other had a stocky rootstock, the bottom end of which looked cut, which according to the key in the book ruled out depressa (which should have a taproot). Furthermore the seedpods contained between 9 and 14 tiny seeds each measuring roughly 1.2 mm, strengthening the case for P. major complex (depressa should have 6-8, 2 mm each). 

Once I ruled out depressa, I started looking at plants similar to P. major (within the complex) that fit the description of our plants. A comment in the book said that P. erosa is difficult to tell apart from P. major but erosa has hairy leaves especially when they are young. I looked at young leaves and found them to be hairy. In fact there are scattered leaves even on the mature leaves. Also according to the key, erosa should have a continuous sepal keel, which again is true for our plants (I will appreciate if someone could confirm this looking at the photos).

So I am inclined to put our plants as P. erosa within the larger P. major complex. Please advise.

I found another pdf on the family here.

All plants were photographed at roughly 1700-1800m altitude between 08-10 May 2019 in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.

Thanks.

Ashwini

PS: Please note my new email address. Thanks.

[Ushadi Micromini]

Ashwini

Superb presentation

i love it

Usha di
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[Ashwini Bhatia]

Thank you Ushadi, you have always been most encouraging.

Warm regards,

Ashwini

[Ushadi Micromini]

You are welcome. 

Usha di
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[J.M. Garg]

Thanks, Ashwini ji, for the well researched presentation.

May I request you to pl. also have a look at Saroj's posts at Plantago asiatica subsp. erosa

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With regards,
J.M.Garg

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[Ashwini Bhatia]

I will do that soon Mr Garg.

Warm regards,

Ashwini