Mittlerer Wegerich
Plantago media
Summary 5
Plantago media, known as the hoary plantain, is a species of genus Plantago native to central and western Europe, including Great Britain and introduced to parts of the north-east United States. Its generic name is derived from the Latin for sole; like other members of Plantago, it should not be confused with the plantain, a starchy banana.
Description 6
Plantago media grows in damp grassy meadows up to an altitude of 2000 m. A slender stalk of between 5 to 50 cm develops from a basal rosette of finely-haired leaves. Delicate pink-white flowers are borne between May and September. P. media is hermaphrodite and is pollinated by wind or insects, particularly bees.
The plant is edible and has long maintained a reputation for medicinal effects as an astringent for treating wounds. In antiquity it was employed against toothache and eye infections. Archeological finds testify to its use during the Roman era in Britain. The seeds are a laxative.
Associations 7
Foodplant / open feeder
adult of Chrysolina haemoptera grazes on leaf of Plantago media
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / parasite
cleistothecium of Erysiphe sordida parasitises live Plantago media
Remarks: season: 9-10
Foodplant / spot causer
sporangium of Peronospora alta causes spots on live Plantago media
Remarks: season: 7-8
Other: minor host/prey
unusual host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
immersed under blackish-brown epidermis pycnidium of Phomopsis coelomycetous anamorph of Phomopsis subordinaria is saprobic on dead stem (upper part) of Plantago media
Remarks: season: 6-11
Plant / resting place / within
puparium of Phytomyza griffithsi may be found in leaf (petiole) mine of Plantago media
Other: sole host/prey
Foodplant / spot causer
Ramularia anamorph of Ramularia plantaginis causes spots on live leaf of Plantago media
Foodplant / spot causer
amphigenous colony of Ramularia anamorph of Ramularia rhabdospora causes spots on live leaf of Plantago media
Remarks: season: 3-10
Fungus / parasite
effuse colony of Taeniolella dematiaceous anamorph of Taeniolella plantaginis parasitises senescent leaf of Plantago media
Sources and Credits
- (c) Andrew Hill, some rights reserved (CC BY-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/47042618@N06/5731208318/
- (c) Amadej Trnkoczy, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/atrnkoczy/7157168991/
- (c) nociveglia, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/40385177@N07/4653098741/
- (c) José María Escolano, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/valdelobos/6151194400/
- Adapted by Bea Steinemann from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_media
- (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_media
- (c) BioImages, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/22911006
More Info
- iNat taxon page
- Biodiversity Heritage Library
- BOLD Systems BIN search
- eFloras.org
- Flora Digital de Portugal
- Flora of North America (beta)
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
- Go Botany
- HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
- IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
- NatureServe Explorer 2.0
- NBN Atlas
- SEINet Symbiota portals
- Tropicos
- USDA PLANTS database
- VASCAN by Canadensys
- World Flora Online
