Scientific Family
Plantaginaceae
Synonyms
Plantago argyraea, P. purshii var. argyraea, P. purshii var. argyrea
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
Flower spikes to 1 foot
Riparian
No
Annual; leaves all basal, small, narrow, somewhat rigid; flowers on scape (leafless flower stalk rising from ground), 2 to 12 inches tall, cluster of greenish or brownish spikes, flowers in whorls or pairs, petals taper to a point, 3/4 to 2 inches long.
Herbage hairy, long shaggy or silky hairs; leaves somewhat rigid, turning dark with drying, long and narrow; bracts below flowers, rounded, margins membranous, not exceeding the sepals; flowers in elongated clusters with male and female parts, white.
Habitat
Clearings in pine forests.
Plant Community
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
6000
High elevation
7500
Flower Characteristics
Flowers on scape (leafless flower stalk rising from ground); flower spike with bracts below flowers, rounded, not exceeding sepals, margins membranous, about as long as sepals or shorter; sepals about 1/16 inch long; petals about 1/16 inch long.
Flower color
Greenish or brownish
Flower shape
Inconspicuous
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves narrow, somewhat rigid, gradually narrowed to stalks which may be as long or longer than blades; 1 to 4 inches long and 1/16 to 1/4 inch wide; dense with long, soft hairs.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit type
Capsule
Seeds black or nearly so, 2 per capsule.