Plantago major
 
Common Plantain

Inflorescence Close-Up

Hudson Bay Regional Park
03-July-2013

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Major: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
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NOT [plants perennial, leaves linear, corolla-tube pubescent externally]

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perennials; NOT [annuals]

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plants with all leaves basal; NOT [plants with stem leaves opposite or whorled]

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leaf-blades prostrate; NOT [leave-blades ascending]

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leaves long-petioled; NOT [leaves short-petioled]

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leaf-blades abruptly narrowed into the petiole; NOT [leaf-blades gradually tapering into the petiole]

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leaf-blades mostly ovate; NOT [leaf-blades mostly lanceolate], NOT [leaves linear to filiform]

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leaves rarely less than 10 mm wide; NOT [leaves rarely over 5 mm wide]

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leaves all entire, or distantly and shallowly toothed; NOT [leaves coarsely toothed to pinnately lobed]

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leaves glabrous to sparsely pubescent; NOT [leaves short-pubescent]

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peduncles and leaves glabrous or hairy, but not silky-pubescent; NOT [peduncles and leaves more or less silky-pubescent]

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peduncle slightly longer than leaves; NOT [peduncle many times longer than leaves]

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filaments inconspicuous; NOT [filaments conspicuous]

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filaments white; NOT [filaments lilac]

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seeds 5-22 to a capsule; NOT [seeds 2-7 to a capsule]

 

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Plantaginaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 
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herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

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plants green or with some chlorophyll; NOT [plants parasitic or saprophytic, without chlorophyll]

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leaves all basal

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flowers on long spikes; NOT [flowers in heads or in form resembling a head]

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flowers inconspicuous; NOT [flowers brightly colored]

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flowers with two floral rings, but with the petals wholly or partly united forming a tube or bell