Stomp on it, try to mow it down – you won’t get very far. But this weed may help world

You may have walked over this tough little plant hundreds of times. Maybe you’ve tried to eradicate it from your lawn.

But broadleaf plantain (Plantago major) is the quintessential weed — resistant to trampling, profuse in its seed production, and amazingly tolerant of poor soils.

Native to parts of Europe and Asia, it’s now found throughout most of the world.

But common names of plants can be confusing. Broadleaf plantain is not related to the starchy, banana-like fruits of Cuban, Puerto Rican, and many other cuisines. It’s actually in a different plant family altogether, along with a narrow-leaf cousin (P. lanceolata) and some 1,900 other species.

Broadleaf plantain grows from a basal rosette of broad, oval leaves with fibrous, parallel veins. In warmer months the plant sends up slender stalks bearing dense clusters of inconspicuous, whitish flowers. These give rise to minuscule seeds that are distributed far and wide by the wind and stay viable for decades.

Plantain thrives in lawns, along paths and roadsides, in waste areas and junkyards, even in the narrowest of sidewalk cracks in big cities around the world. Stomp on it, try to mow it down – you won’t get very far. The plant’s low growth habit, sturdy leaves, and vigorous regenerative abilities make it among the most resilient of all weeds.

Needless to say, it can be the bane of gardeners and homeowners. But in an ecological context, broadleaf plantain, like other common weeds, plays an important role in colonizing disturbed areas whose soils are nutrient-deficient, dry, compacted, or otherwise unsuitable for many other plants. As a “pioneer” species in the natural process of plant succession, it paves the way for other plants to thrive.

If broadleaf plantain invades your garden, consider leaving a small patch to attract Buckeye butterflies, whose caterpillars feed on the leaves. So do rabbits, deer, and other animals. Northern Cardinals and assorted sparrows eat the seeds.

Humans, too, have found culinary uses for broadleaf plantain. According to nutritional studies, it’s packed with vitamins.

The species also has a long history of use in traditional medicine worldwide. For at least several thousand years, various preparations of the plant have been utilized to heal wounds, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and treat coughs, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and other afflictions. Recent analyses have identified a host of bioactive substances with possible pharmacological significance. Further studies are underway.

This story was originally published January 23, 2020 at 10:32 AM.