Plantago

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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Plantago (Plantains) | image = Plantago_major.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = Greater Plantain (Plantago major) | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Magnoliopsida | ordo = Lamiales | familia = Plantaginaceae | genus = Plantago | genus_authority = L. | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = About 200 species, including:
Plantago affra
Plantago alpina
Plantago arborescens
Plantago arenaria - Branched Plantain
Plantago argentea
Plantago asiatica
Plantago coronopus - Buckshorn Plantain
Plantago cynops
Plantago lanceolata - Ribwort Plantain
Plantago major - Greater Plantain
Plantago maritima - Sea Plantain
Plantago maxima
Plantago media - Hoary Plantain
Plantago nivalis
Plantago psyllium - Sand Plantain
Plantago reniformis
Plantago sempervirens
Plantago subulata }}

Plantago is a genus of about 200 species of small, inconspicuous plants commonly called plantains. They share this name with the very dissimilar plantain, a kind of banana. Most are herbaceous plants, though a few are subshrubs growing to 60 cm tall. The leaves are sessile, but have a narrow part near the stem which is a pseudo-petiole. They have three or five parallel veins that diverge in the wider part of the leaf. Leaves are broad or narrow, depending on the species. The inflorescences are borne on stalks typically 5-40 cm tall, and can be a short cone or a long spike, with numerous tiny wind-pollinated flowers.

Plantains are used as food plants by the larvae of some species of Lepidoptera - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Plantago.

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Uses

The herb is astringent, anti-toxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, as well as demulcent, expectorant and diuretic. Externally, a poultice of the leaves is useful for insect bites, poison-ivy rashes, minor sores. In folklore it is even claimed to be able to cure snakebite (but at least for actually dangerous snakebites this is certainly untrue). Internally, it is used for coughs and bronchitis, as a tea, tincture, or syrup. The broad-leaved varieties are sometimes used as a leaf vegetable for salads, green sauce, et cetera.

Plantain seed husks expand and become mucilaginous when wet, especially those of P. psyllium, which is used in common over-the-counter bulk laxative and fiber supplement products such as Metamucil. P. psyllium seed is useful for constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, dietary fiber supplementation, and diverticular disease. Recent research is also showing it to be promising in lowering cholesterol and controlling diabetes.

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