Pale Indian plantain

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Pale Indian plantain

Pale Indian plantain inflorescence

Pale Indian plantain bracts and florets

Pale Indian plantain leaves

Pale Indian plantain stem and leaves

Pale Indian plantain

Pale Indian plantain leaves

Pale Indian plantain habit

Morphology

Stem

Erect, unbranched below inflorescence, round in cross section, weakly ridged or smooth, waxy.

Leaves

Alternate, basal leaves few, long-stalked, blades triangular-ovate or heart-shaped, to 12 inches long and wide, palmately-veined with 3-10 main veins, glabrous; margins toothed or shallowly-lobed; lobes usually broadly pointed; lower stem leaves similar, more conspicuously lobed; stem leaves progressively reduced upward; lower surface pale green, waxy; upper stem leaves short-stalked.

Inflorescence

Cyme, corymb-like, terminal and in axils of uppermost leaves; heads numerous, 100+, involucre stalked, narrowly cylindric, 1/3 to 2/5 inch tall; involcural bracts 5, erect, spreading in fruit, oblong, greenish-white, rounded on back.

Flower

Ray florets absent; disk florets 5; corollas deeply 5-lobed, 1/3 to 1/2 inch long, white or greenish-white, sometimes pale purple.

Fruit

Achene, egg-shaped to spindle-shaped, 1/6 to 1/5 inch long, 10-ribbed, brown or purplish, tipped with numerous white bristles 1/6 to 1/4 inch long, enclosing small seed.

Ecology

Habitat

Edges of woods, stream banks, occasionally pastures and roadsides.

Distribution

East 1/3 of Kansas.

Practical Information

Uses

Native Americans applied a poultice of pale Indian plantain to cuts and bruises and used it to treat cancer and to draw out poisonous substances. The leaves were powdered and used as a seasoning.

Synonyms

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.