PLANTAGINACEAE [Draft]
车前科 che qian ke
Li Zhenyu[1] (李振宇), Wei Lai1 (魏来); Ronald K. Hoggard[2]
Herbs or small shrubs. Stipules absent. Leaves spirally alternate, usually in a basal rosette, rarely opposite or whorled, simple; leaf blade veins (1- or)3--11, arcuate. Inflorescences spikes, rarely racemes or 1-flowered, pedunculate, each flower with one bract. Flower bisexual, small, rarely polygamous or unisexual. Calyx usually 4-parted, persistent, segments imbricate. Corolla scarious or membranous, gamopetalous, actinomorphic or rarely zygomorphic, (3- or)4-lobed; lobes imbricate. Stamens (1 or 2 or)4, inserted on corolla tube, alternate with lobes; anthers free, versatile, with an apical appendage, thecae 2 and parallel. Pistil consists of 2 carpels; ovary superior, (1- or)2-loculed, axile or rarely basal; style 1, filiform, mostly longitudinally stigmatic. Fruit a pyxis, rarely a nutlet, with 1 to numerous seeds. Seeds minute; cotyledons narrow; endosperm fleshy.
Three genera and more than 210 species: cosmopolitan; 1 genus and 22 species (three endemic and four naturalized) in China.
Li Zhenyu. 2002. Plantaginaceae. In: Hu Chiachi & Tsui Hongpin eds., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 70: 318--345.
1. PLANTAGO Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 112. 1753.
车前属 che qian shu
Psyllium Miller.
Herbs or rarely small shrubs, annual, biennial, or perennial, acaulescent or rarely stemmed, with a taproot or only numerous fibrous roots. Leaves simple; petiole vaginate at base; leaf blade ovate, elliptic, oblong, lanceolate, linear, or subulate, margin entire, repand, erose, or toothed, rarely pinnately or palmately cleft. Inflorescences arising from rosette or leaf axil of stem; Spikes narrowly cylindric, capitate, or rarely 1-flowered. Corolla salverform or tubular, persistent; tube cylindric or constricted at throat, as long as or slightly longer than calyx; limb 4-parted. Stamens (2--)4; anthers ovoid, suborbicular, elliptic, or oblong. Ovary 2-loculed but sometimes with an apical third compartment, placentation axile, with 1 to numerous ovules per locule. Fruit a pyxis, with 1 to numerous seeds. Seeds peltately inserted; testa mucilaginous when wet; embryo straight; cotyledons parallel or vertical to ventral (hilum) side.
About 200 species: cosmopolitan; 22 species (three endemic and four introduced and naturalized) in China.
1a. Stem erect, with elongated internodes; leaves opposite, rarely in whorls of 3; corolla brownish 22. P. arenaria
1b. Stem absent or very short; leaves usually in basal rosette, rarely densely alternate; corolla white or yellowish.
2a. Plant only with fibrous roots; stamens adnate only to near base of corolla tube, petiole not retrorsely pubescent, and leaf blade veins 7 or fewer.
3a. Leaf blade lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 3--4 X as long as wide; corolla yellowish; anthers 1.8--2.2 mm 7. P. fengdouensis
3b. Leaf blade broadly ovate to broadly elliptic, less than 2 X as long as wide; corolla white; anthers 0.8--1.5 mm.
4a. Flower sessile; pyxis circumscissile at or just basally from middle, with (8--)12--14(--34) seeds; seeds 0.8--1.2 mm 3. P. major
4b. Flower shortly pedicellate; pyxis circumscissile near base, with (2--)5--15 seeds; seeds (1.2--)1.3--2 mm.
5a. Sepals acuminate at apex, keel projecting beyond apex; anthers ca. 0.8 mm 5. P. cavaleriei
5b. Sepals obtuse or acute at apex, keel not projected at apex; anthers 1--1.5 mm.
6a. Petiole not winged at middle; corolla lobes narrowly triangular; anthers 1--1.2 mm 4. P. asiatica
6b. Petiole broadly winged; corolla lobes ovate to broadly ovate; anthers ca. 1.5 mm 6. P. gentianoides
2b. Plant with a taproot; stamens adnate to middle of corolla tube or more apically but if adnate only to near base of corolla tube then petiole retrorsely pubescent and leaf blade veins 7--11.
7a. Leaf blade broadly ovate to elliptic, veins 7--11; petiole retrorsely pubescent; stamens adnate only to near base of corolla tube.
8a. Plants turning black when dry; petiole longer than or equaling blade, not winged; bracts glabrous 1. P. maxima
8b. Plants not turning black when dry; petiole much shorter than blade, winged; bracts pubescent 2. P. media
7b. Leaf blade obovate, elliptic, lanceolate, or linear, veins 1--5(or 7); petiole with patent, appressed upward, or rarely entangled trichomes; stamens adnate to middle of corolla tube or more apically.
9a. Corolla tube pubescent or lobes hirsute-villous outside.
10a. Leaf blade papery, sparsely villous; corolla lobes densely hirsute-villous outside; stamens adnate to near apex of corolla tube 20. P. lagocephala
10b. Leaf blade leathery, sparsely strigillose or glabrous; corolla tube pubescent; stamens adnate to middle of corolla tube 21. P. maritima
9b. Corolla glabrous.
11a. Anterior sepals connate to near apex; stamens adnate to middle of corolla tube 16. P. lanceolata
11b. All sepals distinct; stamens adnate to or near apex of corolla tube.
12a. Bracts with linear to subulate apex, much longer than flower 17. P. aristata
12b. Bracts obtuse or acute apex, shorter, equaling or slightly longer than flower.
13a. Leaf blade linear, glabrous or abaxially pubescent, vein 1; seeds 7--30 per pyxis, fusiform.
14a. Bracts broadly ovate to suborbicular; sepals broadly elliptic to orbicular; pyxis with 12--30 seeds 14. P. polysperma
14b. Bracts ovate; sepals obovate; pyxis with 7--15 seeds 15. P. tenuiflora
13b. Leaf blade various but not linear, both surfaces with trichomes, veins (1- or)3--7; seeds 1--4 per pyxis, ellipsoid to oblong.
15a. Leaf blade elliptic, ovate-lanceolate, obovate-lanceolate, or spatulate, more than 1 cm wide.
16a. Leaf blade spatulate to obovate-lanceolate, veins (3- or)5; flowers heteromorphic; corolla yellowish, lobes erect when flowers fertile; seeds 2 per pyris, ventral surface grooved 8. P. virginica
16b. Leaf blade elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, rarely obovate-elliptic, veins 5- or 7; flowers homomorphic; corolla white, lobes patent to reflex; seeds 4 per pyxis, ventral surface flat or prominent but not grooved face.
17a. Bracts triangular-ovate; corolla lobes 0.5--1 mm; anthers white; pyxis 4--5 mm 9. P. depressa
17b. Bracts ovate-elliptic; corolla lobes 1--1.5 mm; anthers reddish brown; pyxis 2.5--3 mm
10. P. camtschatica
15b. Leaf blade linear to narrowly lanceolate, usually less than 1 cm wide.
18a. Leaf blade arachnoid or silky villous; spikes cylindric to narrowly cylindric.
19a. Leaf blade arachnoid, veins 1 or 3, margin entire or repand-crenate; spikes 1--2.5(--5) cm, flowers dense; anthers ca. 1.2 mm 13. P. arachnoidea
19b. Leaf blade sparsely silky villous, veins 3 or 5, margin remotely and retrorsely denticulate or triangular dentate; spikes 4--10 cm, flowers usually interrupted at base; anthers ca. 2 mm 12. P. perssonii
18b. Leaf blade villous or lanate; spikes capitate or ovoid at first but later shortly cylindric.
20a. Seeds 3 or 4 per pyxis, black, (1--)1.5--2 mm, ventral face flat; cotyledons parallel to ventral side 11. P. komarovii
20b. Seeds 1 or 2 per pyxis, yellowish brown to brown, (2--)3--4 mm, ventral face with a groove; cotyledons vertical to ventral side.
21a. Plant with short stems, usually branched at base; corolla lobes orbicular-ovate 18. P. ovata
21b. Plants stemless; corolla lobes elliptic to narrowly ovate 19. P. minuta
1. Plantago maxima Jussieu ex Jacquin, Collectanea 1: 82. 1787.
巨车前 ju che qian
Perennials robust. Taproot cylindric. Leaves basal; petiole 8--20 cm, densely retrorse pubescent; blade broadly elliptic, broadly ovate, or broadly obovate, 8--20 X 5--14 cm, thickly papery, blacked when dry, white pubescent, veins 7--11, base broadly cuneate to decurrent, margin entire or remotely repand-crenate, apex acute to rounded. Spikes cylindric, 6--20 cm, densely flowered; peduncle 20--50 cm, pubescent; bracts narrowly ovate, slightly shorter than calyx, glabrous, keel distinct. Sepals narrowly elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 2.2--2.5 mm, glabrous, keel broad, extended to apex. Corolla white, glabrous; lobes ovate-lanceolate, 1.5--2 mm, patent to reflexed, apex acute. Stamens lilac but blackened when dry, adnate only to near base of corolla tube, exserted; anthers ovoid-ellipsoid, 1.6--1.8 mm. Pyxis ovoid, 3--4 mm, with 2--4 seeds. Seeds yellowish brown to black, ovoid to narrowly ovoid, 1.9--2.4 mm, ventral face prominent; cotyledons parallel to ventral side. Fl. Jun--Aug, fr. Aug--Sep.
Meadows; 500--700 m. N Xinjiang (Altay Shi, Yining Shi) [Hungary; Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan].
2. Plantago media Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 113.1753.
北车前 bei che qian
Plantago media var. urvilleana Rapin; P. stepposa Kuprianova.
Perennials. Taproot cylindric, thick. Leaves basal; petiole 0.5--8 cm, winged, densely retrorse pubescent; leaf blade elliptic, ovate, or obovate, 4.5--13 X 1.5--5 cm, blade papery to thickly papery, white pubescent, veins 7 or 9, base cuneate to attenuate, margin entire or remotely repand-crenate, apex acute. Spikes cylindric, 3--8 cm, densely flowered; peduncle 15--40(--45) cm, white pubescent; bracts narrowly ovate, 2--3 mm, basally and adaxially pubescent, keel thick, apex subacute. Sepals as long as bract, glabrous, keel not extending to apex; anterior sepals ovate-elliptic to broadly ovate; posterior sepals broadly ovate. Corolla white, glabrous; lobes ovate-elliptic to ovate, 1.7--2.3 mm, patent to reflexed. Stamens lilac but blackened when dry, adnate only to near base of corolla tube, exserted; anthers oblong, 1.7--1.9 mm. Pyxis ovoid-ellipsoid, 2.5--4 mm, with 2--4 seeds. Seeds yellowish brown to brown, ellipsoid, 1.5--2 mm, shining, ventral face prominent; cotyledons parallel to ventral side. Fl. Jun--Aug, fr. Jul--Sep.
Meadows, wet banks, ravines, mountain slopes, terraces; 1400--2000 m. Nei Mongol, Xinjiang [M and N Asia; Europe].
3. Plantago major Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 112. 1753.
大车前 da che qian
Plantago gigas H. Léveillé; P. intermedia Gilibert; P. jehohlensis Koidzumi, as “jopohlensis”; P. macro-nipponica Yamamoto; P. major subsp. intermedia (Gilibert) Lange; P. major subsp. pleiosperma Pilger; P. major var. gigas (H. Léveillé) H. Léveillé; P. major var. jehohlensis (Koidzumi) S. H. Li; P. major var. kimurae Yamamoto; P. major var. paludosa Béguinot; P. major var. pauciflora (Gilibert) Béguinot; P. major var. sawadai Yamamoto; P. major var. sinuata (Lamark) Decaisne; P. pauciflora Gilbert; P. sawadai (Yamamoto) Yamamoto; P. sinuata Lamark; P. villifera Kitagawa (1935), not Franchet (1879).
Perennials. Roots fibrous, numerous. Leaves basal, pubescent to subglabrous; petiole 1--10(--26) cm; leaf blade broadly ovate to broadly elliptic, 3--18(--30) X 2--11(--21) cm, herbaceous to papery, veins (3 or)5 or 7, base ??, margin remotely dentate to nearly entire, apex acute to obtuse. Spikes narrowly cylindric to cylindric, 1--20(--40) cm, usually interrupted basally; peduncle 2--18(--45) cm, pubescent; bracts broadly ovate-triangular, 1.2--2 mm, glabrous or pubescent at apex, keel broad and thick. Flower sessile. Sepals 1.5--2.5 mm, glabrous or ciliolate, keel not extending to apex, apex rounded; anterior sepals elliptic to broadly elliptic; posterior sepals broader. Corolla white, glabrous; lobes narrowly ovate, 1--1.5 mm, patent to reflexed. Stamens adnate only to near base of corolla tube, exserted; anthers purplish or white, ellipsoid, 1--1.2 mm. Pyxis subglobose, ovoid, or broadly ellipsoid, 2--3 mm, circumscissile at or just below middle, with (8--)12--24(--34) seeds. Seeds yellowish brown, ovoid, ellipsoid, or rhomboid, 0.8--1.2 mm, angled, ventral face prominent to slightly flat; cotyledons parallel to ventral side. Fl. Jun--Aug, fr. Jul--Sep.
Meadows, wet places, waste places; near sea level to 2800 m. Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Gansu, Guangxi, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Jiangsu, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan [Asia; Europe].
Plantago major is widely naturalized throughout much of the world.
4. Plantago asiatica Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 113. 1753.
车前 che qian
Perennials. Roots fibrous, numerous. Leaves basal; petiole 2--15(--27) cm, sparsely pubescent; leaf blade broadly ovate to broadly elliptic, 4--12 X 2.5--6.5 cm, thinly papery to papery, sparsely pubescent, veins 3--7, base broadly cuneate to nearly rounded and decurrent, margin entire, repand, serrate, or dentate, apex obtuse to acute. Spikes narrowly cylindric, 3--40 cm, loosely to densely flowered, sometimes interrupted basally; peduncle 5--30 cm, white pubescent; bracts narrowly ovate-triangular to triangular-lanceolate, 2--3 mm, glabrous or pubescent at apex, keel thick. Sepals 2--4 mm, keel not extending to or extending to apex, apex obtuse, rounded, or acute; anterior sepals elliptic, keel broad; posterior sepals broadly obovate-elliptic to broadly obovate. Corolla white, glabrous; lobes narrowly triangular, (0.7--)1--1.5 mm, patent to reflexed, apex acuminate to acute. Stamens adnate only to near base of corolla tube, exserted; anthers white, ovoid-ellipsoid, 1--1.2 mm. Pyxis fusiform-ovoid, ovoid, conic-ovoid, or narrowly conic-ovoid, 3--6(--8) mm, circumscissile near base, with 5--15 seeds. Seeds blackish brown, ovoid-ellipsoid to ellipsoid, 1.2--2 mm, angled, ventral prominent to slightly flat; cotyledons parallel to ventral side. Fl. Apr--Aug, fr. Jun--Sep.
Mountain slopes, ravines, river banks, fields, roadsides, waste places, lawns; near sea level to 3800 m. Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang. [Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka].
1a. Sepals 3.5--4 mm, apex acute; pyxis narrowly conic-ovoid, 5--6(--8) mm 4c. subsp. densiflora
1b. Sepals 2--3 mm, apex rounded to obtuse; pyxis fusiform-ovoid, ovoid, or conic-ovoid, 3--4.5 mm.
2a. Leaf blade veins 5 or 7; keel not extended to apex of sepal; corolla lobes ca. 1.5 mm 4a. subsp. asiatica
2b. Leaf blade veins 3(or 5); keel extended to apex of sepal; corolla lobes (0.7--)1--1.2 mm 4b. subsp. erosa
4a. Plantago asiatica subsp. asiatica
车前(原变种) che qian (yuan bian zhong)
Plantago asiatica var. brevior Pilger; P. asiatica var. densiuscula Pilger; P. asiatica var. laxa Pilger; P. asiatica var. lobulata Pilger; P. formosana Tateishi & Masamune; P. hostifolia Nakai & Kitagawa; P. major Linnaeus var. asiatica (Linnaeus) Decaisne; P. major var. folioscopa T. Ito.
Leaf blade veins 5 or 7. Spikes loosely to densely flowered. Sepals 2--3 mm, keel not extended to apex, apex rounded to obtuse. Corolla lobes ca. 1.5 mm. Pyxis fusiform-ovoid to conic-ovoid, 3--4.5 mm, with 5 or 6(--12) seeds. Seeds (1.2--)1.5--2 mm. Fl. Apr--Aug, fr. Jun--Sep.
Mountain slopes, ravines, river banks, fields, roadsides, waste places, lawns; near sea level to 3200 m. Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang. [Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia].
4b. Plantago asiatica subsp. erosa (Wallich) Z. Y. Li, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 70: 328. 2002.
疏花车前 shu hua che qian
Plantago erosa Wallich in Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. (Carey & Wallich ed.) 1: 423. 1820; P. centralis Pilger.
Leaf blade veins 3(or 5). Spikes usually loosely flowered and interrupted. Sepals 2--2.5 mm, keel extended to apex, apex rounded to obtuse. Corolla lobes (0.7--)1--1.2 mm. Pyxis conic-ovoid, 3--4 mm, with 6--15 seeds. Seeds 1.2--1.7(--2) mm. Fl. May--Jul, fr. Aug--Sep.
Mountain slopes, river banks, ravines, fields, roadsides; 400--3800 m. Chongqing, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Qinghai, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka].
4c. Plantago asiatica subsp. densiflora (J. Z. Liu) Z. Yu Li, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 70: 328. 2002.
长果车前 chang guo che qian
Plantago densiflora J. Z. Liu, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 27: 298. 1989, as ‘densiflorus’.
Leaf blade veins 3 or 5. Spikes densely flowered, sometimes interrupted basally. Sepals 3.5--4 mm, keel not extended to apex, apex acute. Corolla lobes 1.3--1.5 mm. Pyxis narrowly conic-ovoid, 5--6(--8) mm, with (5--)10--15 seeds. Seeds 1.2--2 mm. Fl. Jun--Aug, fr. Aug--Sep.
* Mountain slopes, roadsides; 700--3500 m. Chongqing, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Xizang, Yunnan.
5. Plantago cavaleriei H. Léveillé, Repert Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 2: 114. 1906.
尖萼车前 jian e che qian
Plantago gigas H. Léveillé var. cavaleriei (H. Léveillé) H. Léveillé; P. schneideri Pilger; P. schneideri var. delicatior Pilger.
Perennials. Roots fibrous, numerous. Leaves basal; petiole 5--12 cm; leaf blade broadly ovate to elliptic, (2.5--)3.5--10 X (1--)2--5 cm, papery, pubescent to subglabrous, veins 5(or 7), base broadly cuneate to rounded and decurrent, margin entire, remotely serrate, or dentate, apex rounded to acute. Spikes narrowly cylindric, 3--20 cm, usually interrupted basally; peduncle 5--25 cm, pubescent; bracts broadly ovate to broadly ovate-triangular, 1--2.3 mm, keel projecting beyond apex, apex acuminate. Sepals 2--2.8 mm, keel projected at apex, apex acuminate; anterior sepals ovate-elliptic, keel broad; posterior sepals broadly ovate to broadly ovate-orbicular, keel narrow and obvious projected. Corolla white, glabrous; tube slightly longer than calyx; lobes narrowly triangular, 1--1.5 mm, patent to reflexed, apex acuminate. Stamens adnate only to near base of corolla tube, exserted; anthers white, ovoid, ca. 0.8 mm. Pyxis narrowly conic-ovoid, 4--4.5 mm, circumscissile near base, with 6--9 seeds. Seeds dark brown, ovoid to ellipsoid, angled, 1.2--1.8 mm, ventral face prominent; cotyledons parallel to ventral side. Fl. May--Aug, fr. Jul--Sep.
* Wet mountain valleys, river and lake banks, roadsides; 200--3500 m. Guizhou, S Sichuan(Hongqi Xian), Yunnan.
6. Plantago gentianoides Sibthorp & Smith subsp. griffithii (Decaisne) K. H. Rechinger, Fl. Iran. 15: 9. 1965.
革叶车前 ge ye che qian
Plantago griffithii Decaisne, Prodr. (DC.) 13(1): 700. 1852, as “griffithsii”; P. gentianoides var. laxa Pilger; P. gentianoides var. tatarica (Decaisne) Pilger; P. griffithii var. alpina Bornmueller; P. griffithii var. pamirica Fedtschenko; P. tatarica Decaisne.
Perennials. Roots fibrous, numerous. Leaves basal, glabrous or sparsely pubescent when young; petiole 1--3(--4) cm, broadly winged; leaf blade thinly leathery to leathery, ovate, broadly ovate, or broadly elliptic, (1--)2--6 X 1.5--2.5 cm, apex acute to acuminate, margin entire, repand, or shallowly crenate below middle, basal broadly cuneate to subrounded, decurrent, veins 3 or 5. Spikes capitate to cylindric, 1--3 cm, densely flowered or interrupted basally; peduncle 2--10 cm, apically appressed pubescent; bracts broadly ovate to broadly ovate-triangular, 2.2--2.5 mm, glabrous, keel broad but not extending to apex. Sepals 2--2.5 mm, glabrous, keel narrower than on bract and extended to apex; anterior sepals broadly obovate-elliptic to broadly elliptic; posterior sepals broadly elliptic to elliptic. Corolla white but brown when dry, glabrous; lobes ovate to broadly ovate, 1.2--1.3 mm, patent to reflexed, apex sometimes emarginate. Stamens adnate only to near base of corolla tube, exserted; anthers yellowish brown when dry, ellipsoid, ca. 1.5 mm. Pyxis ellipsoid to ovoid, apex truncate, circumscissile near base, with 2--4(--7) seeds. Seeds brown to blackish brown, ellipsoid, ca. 2 mm, angled, ventral face flat; cotyledons parallel to ventral side. Fl. Jun--Aug, fr. Aug--Sep.
River banks, moist stony pastures; 3000--4300 m. SW Xinjiang, NW Xizang [Afghanistan, Iran, Kashmir, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan].
Plantago gentianoides subsp. gentianoides occurs in SE Europe and differs from var. griffithii by having leaf blade ovate-lanceolate to broadly ovate, base, and apex acute, and anthers yellow when dry.
7. Plantago fengdouensis (Z. E. Chao & Yong Wang) Yong Wang & Z. Yu Li, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 42: 558. 2004.
丰都车前 feng dou che qian
Plantago erosa Wallich var. fengdouensis Z. E. Chao & Yong Wang, Wuhan Bot. Res. 20(4): 263. 2002.
Perennials. Roots fibrous, numerous. Leaves basal; petiole 1.5--10 cm; leaf blade lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 4--15 X 1--4 cm, thinly papery to papery, glabrous or white pubescent near sinus between lobes, veins 3(or 5), base narrowly cuneate to decurrent, margin dentate to incised, each side with 1--5 triangular to linear lobes, or rarely repand, apex acute to acuminate. Spikes narrowly cylindric, 2--15 cm, densely flowered, loose or interrupted basally; peduncle 4--15 cm, glabrous; bracts ovate-triangular, 2--3 mm, apically ciliolate, keel thick and extended to apex. Sepals elliptic, 2.2--2.7 mm, glabrous; anterior sepals longest, keel extended to or near apex, apex subacute to rounded. Corolla yellowish, glabrous; lobes narrowly triangular, 1.4--1.6 mm, patent to reflexed, apex acuminate. Stamens adnate only to near base of corolla tube, exserted; anthers yellow, ellipsoid-ovoid, 1.8--2.2 mm. Pyxis fusiform-ellipsoid, 3--4 mm, circumscissile basally from middle, with 2 or 3 seeds. Seeds blackish brown, ellipsoid to ovoid-ellipsoid, sometimes angled, with a shallow groove on ventral face; cotyledons parallel to ventral side. Fl. Apr--May, fr. Apr--May.
* Gravel beds; 100--200 m. Chongqing (Fengdu Xian, Zhongxian Xian).
Plantago fengdouensis is an amphibious plant with a highly restricted distribution, occurring only on the two alluvial islets in Fengdou and Zhongxian counties within the Three Gorges Dam area. The natural habitats were permanently submerged by the water project in June 2003. The living plants are conserved at Wuhan Botanical Garden and Beijing Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
8. Plantago virginica Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 113. 1753.
北美车前 bei mei che qian
Annuals or biennials, often dioecious. Taproot tenuous. Leaves basal; petiole 0.5--5 cm, with or not winged; leaf blade oblanceolate, spatulate, or obovate-lanceolate, (2--)3--18 X 0.5--4 cm, nearly entire, sparsely white pubescent, veins (3 or) 5, base narrowly cuneate to decurrent, margin repand or irregularly dentate, apex acute to obtuse. Spikes narrowly cylindric, (1--)3--18 cm, base usually interrupted; peduncle 4--20 cm, hollow, densely white pubescent; bracts narrowly lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 2--2.5 mm, pubescent, keel thick. Sepals as long or slightly shorter than bract, pubescent; anterior sepals obovate, keel not extending to apex; posterior sepals broadly ovate, keel narrower and projected at apex. Corolla yellowish, glabrous. Male flowers: Corolla lobes patent to reflexed; stamens exserted; anthers broadly ellipsoid, 1--1.1 mm. Female flowers: corolla lobes ovate-lanceolate, 1.5--2.5 mm, erect; vestigial stamens adnate to near apex of corolla tube, covered by corolla lobes; anthers yellowish, narrowly ovoid, ca. 0.3 mm. Pyxis ovoid, 2--3 mm, circumscissile near base, with 2 seeds. Seeds light brown, ovoid to narrowly ovoid, (1--)1.4--1.8 mm, with a shallow groove on ventral face; cotyledons parallel to ventral side. Fl. Apr--May, fr. May--Jun.
Low elevations of grasslands, roadsides, lake banks; near sea level to 800 m. Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Zhejiang [native of North America; naturalized in Central America, Europe, Japan].
First collected in China in Nanchang Shi, Jiangxi in 1951.
9. Plantago depressa Willdenow, Pl. Hort. Berol. Suppl. 8. 1813.
平车前 ping che qian
Annuals, biennials, or perennials. Taproot long, ± fleshy or becoming woody when old. Leaves basal, sparsely or densely white pubescent; petiole 2--7 cm; leaf blade elliptic, elliptic-lanceolate, obovate-elliptic, or ovate-lanceolate, 3--15 X 1--5.5 cm, papery, veins 5 or 7, base cuneate and decurrent, margin repand-crenate, irregularly serrate, dentate, or entire, apex acute to obtuse. Spikes narrowly cylindric, 6--12 cm, densely flowered, interrupted basally; peduncle 5--18 cm, white pubescent; bracts triangular-ovate, 2--3.5 mm, glabrous, keel extended near or to apex. Sepals 2--2.5 mm, glabrous, keel not extending to apex; anterior sepals narrowly obovate-elliptic to broadly elliptic; posterior sepals obovate-elliptic to broadly elliptic. Corolla white, glabrous; lobes elliptic to ovate, 0.5--1 mm, patent to reflexed. Stamens adnate to near apex of corolla tube, exserted; anthers white, ovoid-ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid, 0.6--1.5 mm. Pyxis ovoid-ellipsoid to conic-ovoid, 4--5 mm, circumscissile near base, wit 4 seeds. Seeds yellowish brown to black, ellipsoid, 1.2--1.8 mm, ventral face prominent to slightly flat; cotyledons parallel to ventral side. Fl. May--Jul, fr. Jul--Sep.
Meadows, wet mountain slopes, river banks, wet places, fields, roadsides; near sea level to 4500 m. Anhui, Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, E Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan [Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kashmir, Kazakstan, Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, E Russia].
1a. Annual or biennial; taproot ± fleshy; leaves sparsely pubescent; leaf blade 3--12 X 1--3.5 cm, margin repand-crenate, irregularly serrate, or dentate; anthers 0.6--1.1 mm 9a. subsp. depressa
1b. Perennial; taproot and rootstock woody when old; leaves densely pubescent; leaf blade 9--15 X 2.5--5.5 cm, margin entire, rarely repand-crenate; anthers 0.7--1.5 mm 9b. subsp. turczaninowii
9a. Plantago depressa subsp. depressa
平车前（原变种）ping che qian (yuan bian zhong)
Plantago depressa var. magnibracteata T. Tanaka & T. K. Zheng; P. sibirica Poirot; P. tibetica J. D. Hooker.
Annuals or biennials. Taproot ± fleshy. Leaves sparsely pubescent; leaf blade 3--12 X 1--3.5 cm, margin repand-crenate, irregularly serrate, or dentate. Anthers 0.6--1.1 mm. Fl. May--Jul, fr. Jul--Sep.
Meadows, fields, roadsides, wet places; near sea level to 4500 m. Anhui, Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan [Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kashmir, Kazakstan, Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, E Russia].
9b. Plantago depressa subsp. turczaninowii (Ganjeschin) Tzvelev, Arktichesk. Fl. SSSR 8(2): 19. 1983.
毛平车前 mao ping che qian
Plantago depressa var. turczaninowii Ganjeschin, Trudy Bot. Muz. Imp. Akad. Nauk 8: 193. 1915; P. depressa var. montana Kitagawa.
Perennials. Taproot and rootstock woody when old. Leaves densely pubescent; leaf blade 9--15 X 2.5--5.5 cm, margin entire or rarely repand-crenate. Anthers 0.7--1.5 mm. Fl. Jun--Jul, fr. Jul--Aug.
Moist meadows, wet mountain slopes, river banks; 1000--1500 m. N Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, E Nei Mongol [E Mongolia, E Russia].
10. Plantago camtschatica Link, Enum. Hort. Berol. 1: 120. 1821.
海滨车前 hai bin che qian
Plantago depressa subsp. camtschatica (Link) Pilger; P. villifera Franchet.
Perennials. Roots ?? Leaves, peduncles, and rachis of spikes densely white pubescent. Leaves basal; petiole 1--4 cm; leaf blade narrowly elliptic to elliptic-ovate, 2.5--10 ´ 1--4 cm, thickly papery, veins 5 or 7, base attenuate, margin entire or repand-crenate, apex acute. Spikes cylindric, 3--9 X 0.5--1 cm, densely flowered or interrupted basally; peduncle 6--15 cm; bracts ovate-elliptic, 2--2.5(--4) mm, usually pubescent, keel broad and not extending to apex. Sepals 2.5--3 mm, keel broad, thick, and not extending to apex; anterior sepals elliptic to obovate-elliptic; posterior sepals broadly elliptic to orbicular. Corolla white, glabrous; lobes ovate-elliptic to ovate, 1--1.5 mm, patent to reflexed, apex acute. Stamens adnate to near apex of corolla tube, exserted; anthers reddish brown, ellipsoid, 1--1.2 mm. Pyxis ovoid-ellipsoid to conic-ovoid, 2.5--3 mm, circumscissile near base, with 4 seeds. Seeds dark brown, ellipsoid to ovoid, 1.5--2.2 mm, ventral face flat; cotyledons parallel to ventral side. Fl. May--Jul, fr. Jun--Aug.
Seaside sands; near sea level. Liaoning(Chang dao) [Korea, Japan, E Russia (Far East)].
11. Plantago komarovii Pavlov, Byull. Moskovsk. Obshch. Isp. Prir. Otd. Biol, n.s., 38: 130. 1929.
翅柄车前 chi bing che qian
Perennials. Taproot long. Leaves basal; petiole 0.8--1.5 cm, broadly winged; leaf blade linear-lanceolate to elliptic, 2--5 X 0.2--0.4 cm, thickly papery, sparsely white villous or glabrate, veins 3, base attenuate to decurrent, margin entire or remotely denticulate, apex acuminate. Spikes shortly cylindric to capitate, 3--12 mm, densely flowered; peduncle 2--6 cm, sparsely appressed villous; bracts ovate to triangular-ovate, as long as or slightly longer than calyx, keel broad. Sepals 1.5--2 mm, sparsely pilose at base, keel narrow and not extending to apex; anterior sepals ovate-elliptic; posterior sepals broadly ovate. Corolla white, glabrous; lobes narrowly triangular, 1--1.3 mm, patent to reflexed. Stamens adnate to near apex of corolla tube, exserted; anthers ??. Pyxis ovoid, 2--3 mm, with 3 or 4 seeds. Seeds black, oblong to narrowly ovoid, (1--)1.5--2 mm, ventral face flat; cotyledons parallel to ventral side. Fl. May--Jun, fr. Jul--Aug.
Stony alpine meadows; ?? m. N Xinjiang (Hoboksar Xian, Jinghe Xian) [Kazakstan, W Mongolia].
12. Plantago perssonii Pilger in Engler, Pflanzenr. 102 (4, 269): 440. 1939.
苣叶车前 ju ye che qian
Perennials. Taproot more than 1 cm in diam. Leaves basal, silky villous; petiole 1--3 cm, tenuous; leaf blade lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, 6--7 X 0.5--1 cm, papery, veins 3 or 5, base attenuate, margin remotely and retrorsely denticulate to triangular dentate, apex acuminate. Spikes narrowly cylindric, 3--10 cm, loosely flowered, usually interrupted basally; peduncle 7--15 cm, lanate; bracts narrowly ovate-elliptic to ovate, 2--2.5 mm, keel not extending to apex. Sepals 2.2--2.5 mm, keel narrow and not extending to apex, apex pubescent; anterior sepals elliptic; posterior sepals broadly ovate, apex attenuate. Corolla white, glabrous; lobes ovate, 1.5--1.8 mm, patent to reflexed, apex narrow and slightly obtuse. Stamens adnate to near apex of corolla tube, exserted; anthers yellow when dry, ellipsoid, ca. 2 mm. Pyxis ovoid-ellipsoid, 3.5--4 mm, circumscissile near base, wit 1 or 2 seeds. Seeds brown to blackish brown, ellipsoid, ca. 2 mm, ventral face flat; cotyledons parallel to ventral side. Fl. Jun--Jul, fr. Jul--Aug.
* Stony meadows in slopes; 2600--3200 m. SW Xinjiang (Shache Xian, Yecheng Xian).
13. Plantago arachnoidea Schrenk in Fischer & C. A. Meyer, Enum. Pl. Nov. 1: 16. 1841, as “arachnoides”.
蛛毛车前 zhu mao che qian
Plantago arachnoidea var. lorata J. Z. Liu; P. lorata (J. Z. Liu) Shipunov.
Perennials. Taproot long and thick. Leaves basal, densely arachnoid; petiole 1.5--2.5 cm; leaf blade narrowly elliptic, lanceolate, or linear, 2--8(--15) X 0.3--1.2(--1.5) cm, papery, veins 1 or 3, base attenuate, margin entire, repand, or repand-crenate, apex acute to acuminate. Spikes cylindric to narrowly cylindric, 1--2.5(--5) cm, densely flowered or interrupted basally; peduncle 5--20 cm; bracts broadly ovate to ovate, 2--3 mm, margin arachnoid, keel broad and not extending to apex. Sepals as long as bract, keel not extending to apex, margin and apex arachnoid; anterior sepals broadly elliptic; posterior sepals broadly obovate-elliptic to orbicular. Corolla white, glabrous; lobes broadly ovate, 1--1.5 mm, patent to reflexed, apex acute. Stamens adnate to near apex of corolla tube, exserted; anthers yellow when dry, ellipsoid, ca. 1.2 mm. Pyxis ovoid to narrowly ovoid, 3--4 mm, circumscissile near base, with 1 or 2 seeds. Seeds yellowish brown to blackish brown, oblong to ellipsoid, (1.5--)1.8--2.8 mm, ventral face flat; cotyledons parallel to ventral side. Fl. Jun--Jul, fr. Jul--Aug.
Stony mountain slopes, saline, meadows; 700--3500 m. Xinjiang [Kazakstan].
14. Plantago polysperma Karelin & Kirilov, Bull. Soc. Nat. Moscou 15: 431. 1842.
多籽车前 duo zi che qian
Annuals. Taproot tenuous. Leaves basal, glabrous; petiole inconspicuous; leaf blade narrowly linear to filamentous-linear, 2--10 X 0.1--0.2(--0.3) cm, thickly papery, vein 1, base attenuate, margin entire, apex slightly obtuse. Spikes cylindric to capitate, 0.5--4 cm, elongated to 7 cm after anthesis, densely flowered or interrupted basally; peduncle 2--10 cm, sparsely white pubescent or glabrous; bracts broadly ovate to suborbicular, 1.7--2.3 mm, glabrous, keel extended to apex. Sepals 1.5--1.8 mm, glabrous, keel thin and extended to apex; anterior sepals broadly elliptic; posterior sepals nearly orbicular, keel narrow. Corolla white, glabrous; lobes ovate, ca. 1 mm, erect. Stamens adnate to near apex of corolla tube, exserted, covered with erect corolla lobes; anthers ??. Pyxis conic-ovoid, 3--4.5 mm, apex truncate, circumscissile near base, with 12--30 seeds. Seeds dark brown, fusiform, 1--1.5 mm; ventral face flat cotyledons parallel to ventral side. Fl. May--Jun, fr. Jun--Jul.
Steppes, saline habitats, sands; ?? m. N Xinjiang [E Kazakstan, W Mongolia, S Russia].
15. Plantago tenuiflora Waldstein & Kitaibel, Descr. Icon. Pl. Hung. 1: 37. 1802.
小花车前 xiao hua che qian
Plantago bungei Steudel; P. pusilla Bunge (1836), not Nuttall (1818).
Annuals. Taproot tenuous. Leaves basal; petiole inconspicuous; leaf blade linear to narrowly linear, 1--13 X 0.1--0.4 cm, thickly papery, glabrous or abaxially sparsely white pubescent, vein 1, base ??, margin entire or remotely denticulate, apex subobtuse. Spikes capitate to narrowly cylindric, 0.5--7 cm, densely flowered or interrupted basally from middle; peduncle 1--12 cm, white pubescent; bracts narrowly ovate to ovate, 2--3 mm, glabrous, keeled to apex. Sepals 1.5--2 mm, glabrous, keel extended to apex; anterior sepals narrowly obovate to elliptic ovate; posterior sepals obovate. Corolla white, glabrous; lobes oblong-ovate, 0.8--1 mm, erect, patent, or reflexed, apex subacute. Stamens adnate to near apex of corolla tube, usually covered by erect corolla lobes, rarely exserted; anthers ovoid, ca. 0.3 mm. Pyxis conic-ovoid, 3--4 mm, circumscissile near base, with 7--15 seeds. Seeds reddish brown to blackish brown, fusiform, 1--1.5(--2) mm, ventral face flat; cotyledons parallel to ventral side. Fl. May--Jul, fr. Jun--Aug.
Saline or strongly alkaline soils in lowlands; ?? m. N Xinjiang (Altay Shi) [Europe; Iraq, Kazakstan, W Mongolia, SW and S Russia].
16. Plantago lanceolata Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 113. 1753.
长叶车前 chang ye che qian
Perennials. Taproot long and thick. Leaves basal, glabrous or pubescent; petiole tenuous, 2--10 cm; leaf blade linear-lanceolate, lanceolate, or elliptic-lanceolate, 6--20 X 0.5--4.5 cm, papery, veins (3 or)5(or 7), base narrowly cuneate and decurrent, margin entire or remotely denticulate, apex acuminate to acute. Spikes conic-ovoid at first but later capitate to shortly cylindric, 1--5(--8) cm, densely flowered; peduncle 10--60 cm, 5-sulcated, appressed pubescent; bracts ovate to elliptic, 3.5--5 mm, densely hirsute, keel spatulate, apex scarious and caudate. Sepals 2--3.5 mm, abaxially usually hirsute, keel narrow and not extending to apex; anterior sepals connate to near apex, broadly obovate, 2-keeled, margin with sparse trichomes; posterior sepals distinct, broadly ovate. Corolla white, glabrous; lobes ovate-lanceolate, 1.5--3 mm, patent to reflexed, apex shortly acuminate. Stamens adnate to near middle of corolla tube, exserted; anthers white or yellowish, ellipsoid, 2.5--3 mm. Pyxis narrowly ovoid, 3--4 mm, circumscissile near base, with (1 or)2 seeds. Seeds brown to dark brown, narrowly ellipsoid to oblong, 2--2.6 mm, shining, with a broad groove on ventral face; cotyledons vertical to ventral side. Fl. May--Jun, fr. Jul--Aug.
Seaside, meadows, boggy places, stony mountain slopes, gravel beds, sands, roadsides, waste places; near sea level to 900 m. Gansu, Henan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Shandong, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [S Asia, Korea, Mongolia, Russia; N Africa, North America, Europe].
17. Plantago aristata Michaux, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 95. 1803.
芒苞车前 mang bao che qian
Plantago aristata var. minuta T. K. Zheng & X. S. Wan, as “munuta”.
Annuals or biennials, with a taproot. Leaves basal, densely villous to glabrate; petiole, inconspicuous; leaf blade elliptic-linear to linear, 4--20 X 0.1--0.9 cm, papery, veins 3, base attenuate and decurrent, margin entire, apex acuminate. Spikes narrowly cylindric, (0.5--)3--10 cm, densely flowered; peduncle 10--20 cm, densely appressed villous; bracts narrowly ovate, basalmost 0.8--4 cm but reduced apically, erect to spreading, densely villous, margin with linear to subulate aristate. Sepals 2--3 mm, keel and apex densely pilose; anterior sepals narrowly obovate, keel broad, thick, and not extending to apex; posterior sepals ovate, keel narrow and extended to apex. Corolla yellowish, glabrous; lobes broadly ovate, 2--2.5 mm, patent to reflexed, base nearly auriculate. Stamens adnate to near apex of corolla tube; anthers yellowish, ovoid, ca. 0.4 mm, included to slightly exserted. Pyxis ellipsoid to ovoid, 2.5--3 mm, circumscissile basally from middle, with 2 seeds. Seeds brown, ellipsoid to oblong, (1.9--)2.3--2.7 mm, with a broad groove on ventral face; cotyledons vertical to ventral side. Fl. May--Jun, fr. Jun--Jul.
Seaside sands, waste places, roadsides; near sea level. Naturalized in Jiangsu (Xuqian Shi) and Shandong (Qindao Shi) [native to North America]
Plantago aristata is naturalized in both E Asia and Europe, and was first collected in China in Qingdao Shi in 1929.
18. Plantago ovata Forsskal, Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 31. 1775.
圆苞车前 yuan bao che qian
Plantago ispaghula Roxburgh ex Fleming.
Annuals. Taproot tenuous and long, rigid. Stem short, branched basally, internode 2--15 mm, densely white villous-lanate. Leaves spirally alternate, sparsely to densely white villous-lanate; petiole tenuous, 2--5 cm; leaf blade linear to linear-lanceolate, 3--15 X 0.1--0.6 cm, papery, veins 3, base attenuate and decurrent, margin entire or remotely denticulate, apex with 1.5--5 mm subulate tip. Spikes ovoid and 0.5--2 cm at anthesis but narrowly ovoid to shortly cylindric and to 5 cm after anthesis, densely flowered; peduncle 3--22 cm, villous-lanate; bracts broadly ovate to orbicular, 3--4 mm, usually glabrous, keeled to or near apex. Sepals 2.5--3 mm, keeled to or near apex; anterior sepals obovate-elliptic, glabrous or pubescent; posterior sepals elliptic, glabrous. Corolla white, glabrous; lobes orbicular-ovate, 2.5--2.8 mm, patent to reflexed, apex acute. Stamens adnate to near apex of corolla tube, exserted; anthers yellowish brown when dry, 0.9--1.3 mm. Pyxis ellipsoid, 4--5 mm, circumscissile near middle, with 2 seeds. Seeds yellowish brown, ellipsoid to ovoid-ellipsoid, 2.5--3 mm, with a groove on ventral face; cotyledons vertical to ventral side. Fl. May--Jun, fr. Jun--Jul.
Introduced for the medicinal seeds, locally escaped, in margins of fields, or grasslands; near see level to 1500 m. Naturalized in Fujian (Ximen Shi) and Xinjiang (Moyu Xian) [native to Mediterranean region]
Plantago ovata is naturalized in North America as well as C, E, and S Asia.
19. Plantago minuta Pallas, Reise Russ. Reich. 3: 716. 1776.
小车前 xiao che qian
Plantago lessingii Fischer & C. A. Meyer; P. minuta subsp. lessingii (Fischer & C. A. Meyer) Tzvelev; P. mongolica Decaisne.
Annuals. Taproot tenuous. Leaves basal; petiole inconspicuous; leaf blade linear, narrowly lanceolate, or spatulate-linear, 3--8 X 0.2--0.8 cm, rigidly papery, veins 3, base attenuate and decurrent, margin entire, apex acuminate. Spikes capitate to shortly cylindric, 0.6--2 cm, densely flowered; peduncle (1--)2--12 cm, tenuous, along with rachis densely grayish to yellowish villous-lanate or sometimes glabrate; bracts broadly ovate to broadly triangular, 2.2--2.8 mm, ± villous or glabrous, keeled to apex, apex obtuse. Sepals 2.7--3 mm, keeled to apex, margin wide and scarious; anterior sepals elliptic to broadly elliptic; posterior sepals broadly elliptic. Corolla white, glabrous; lobes elliptic to narrowly ovate, 1.4--2 mm, patent to reflexed, apex acute to erose. Stamens adnate to near apex of corolla tube, exserted to included; anthers yellow when dry, nearly orbicular, ca. 1 mm. Pyxis ovoid to broadly ovoid, 3.5--4(--5) mm, circumscissile near base, with 2 seeds. Seeds yellowish brown, ellipsoid-ovoid to ellipsoid, (2.5--)3--4 mm, shining, with a broad groove on ventral face; cotyledons vertical to ventral side. Fl. Jun--Aug, fr. Jul--Sep.
Saline places, gravel beds, sands, ravines, boggy places; 400--4300 m. Gansu, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shanxi, Xinjiang, Xizang [Kazakstan, Mongolia, S and SW Russia].
20. Plantago lagocephala Bunge, Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg Divers Savans 7: 445. 1851.
毛瓣车前 mao ban che qian
Annuals. Taproot tenuous. Leaves and inflorescences villous. Leaves basal; petiole inconspicuous; leaf blade narrowly lanceolate, lanceolate, or oblanceolate, 3--4 X 0.2--0.3 cm, papery, veins 3, base attenuate, margin entire, apex acuminate. Spikes ovoid to ovoid-ellipsoid, 8--10 mm but to 1.6 cm after anthesis, densely flowered; peduncle 5--12 cm; bracts broadly ovate, ca. 3 mm, keel narrow and slightly projected at apex. Sepals ca. 3 mm, villous, keel thick and not extending to apex; anterior sepals lanceolate-ovate, keel as broad or slightly narrower than lateral lamina; posterior sepals very inequilateral. Corolla yellowish, glabrous except lobes; lobes triangular-ovate, ca. 1 mm, erect to patent, outside densely hirsute-villous. Stamens adnate to near apex of corolla tube; anthers yellowish when dry, broadly ellipsoid, 0.7--0.8 mm, slightly exserted. Pyxis ellipsoid, 3--3.5 mm, circumscissile basally from middle, with 2 seeds. Seeds yellowish brown, narrowly ellipsoid to narrowly ovoid-ellipsoid, 2.5--3 mm, shining, with a broad groove on ventral face; cotyledons vertical to ventral side. Fl. Apr--May, fr. May--Jun.
Stony mountain slopes, saline places, open dry pastures; ca. 200 m. N Xinjiang (Shawan Xian) [Afghanistan, Kazakstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan].
21. Plantago maritima Linnaeus subsp. ciliata Printz, Veg. Siber.-Mongol. Front. 397. 1921.
盐生车前 yan sheng che qian
Plantago maritima var. salsa (Pallas) Pilger; P. salsa Pallas.
Perennials. Taproot long and thick. Leaves basal, ± strigillose; petiole inconspicuous; leaf blade leathery, linear, (4--)7--32 X (0.1--)0.2--0.8 cm, veins (1 or)3 or 5, base attenuate and decurrent, margin entire and plane to recurved, apex long acuminate. Spikes cylindric, (2--)5--17 cm, densely flowered or interrupted basally, rachis densely strigillose; peduncle (5--)10--30(--40) cm, white strigillose; bracts triangular-ovate to lanceolate-ovate, 2--2.5 mm, margin ciliolate, keel thick but not extended to apex, apex shortly acuminate. Sepals 2.2--3 mm, keel, margin, and apex hirsutulous, keel thick and not extended to apex; anterior sepals narrowly elliptic, slightly inequilateral; posterior sepals broadly elliptic. Corolla yellowish; tube outside pubescent; lobes broadly ovate to oblong-ovate, ca. 1.5 mm, patent to reflexed, margin ciliolate. Stamens adnate to middle of corolla tube, exserted; anthers yellow when dry, ellipsoid, 1.8--2 mm. Pyxis conic-ovoid, 2.7--3 mm, with 1 or 2 seeds. Seeds yellowish brown to dark brown, ellipsoid to oblong, 1.6--2.3 mm, ventral face flat; cotyledons vertical to ventral side. Fl. Jun--Jul, fr. Jul--Aug.
Salt marshes, saline meadows; 100--3800 m. Gansu, Hebei, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shanxi, Xinjiang [Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia (S Siberia)].
Plantago maritima subsp. maritima occurs in Europe and differs from subsp. ciliata by having the margin of the corolla lobes glabrous.
22. Plantago arenaria Waldstein & Kitaibel, Descr. Icon. Pl. Hung. 1: 51. 1802.
对叶车前 dui ye che qian
Plantago indica Linnaeus, nom. illegit.; P. psyllium Linnaeus, (1753), not Linnaeus, (1762), nom. ambig.; Psyllium indicum (Linnaeus) DuMont; P. arenarium (Waldstein & Kitaibel) Mirbel.
Annuals, with a taproot. Taproot, stem, leaves, inflorescences, and sepals white glandulous-pubescent. Stem erect, (10--)20--60 cm tall, branched, internode elongate. Leaves cauline, opposite, seldom in whorls of 3; petiole inconspicuous; leaf blade linear to linear-lanceolate, 3--6(--8) X 0.1--0.4(--0.5) cm, papery, veins (1 or)3, base ??, margin entire, apex acuminate. Inflorescences arising from leaf axil apically from middle of stem; spikes ovoid to ellipsoid, 0.7--2 cm, densely flowered; peduncle 2--8 cm; basalmost bracts 0.5--2 cm but reduced apically, base orbicular-ovate, apex cuspidate. Sepals broadly veined, keel broad and not extending to apex; anterior sepals obovate, 3--4 mm, inequilateral; posterior sepals narrowly elliptic, 2.7--3.5 mm. Corolla brownish, glabrous; tube transversely rugose; lobes narrowly ovate, 1.5--2 mm, patent to reflexed. Stamens adnate to near apex of corolla tube, exserted; anthers yellow, ellipsoid, 1.8--2.2 mm. Pyxis ellipsoid, 3.2--3.5 mm, circumscissile near base, with 2 seeds. Seeds brown to blackish brown, ovoid-ellipsoid to ellipsoid, 2.5--2.8 mm, shining, with a broad groove on ventral face; cotyledons vertical to ventral side. Fl. Jul--Aug, fr. Aug--Oct.
Cultivated for its medicinal seeds, locally escaped in sandy, meadows, roadsides; 100--3500 m. Guangxi, Hebei, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Zhejiang [native to Europe, N Africa, SW and C Asia].
Plantago arenaria is naturalized in North America, Australia, India, Japan, and Pakistan.