Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: Stephenb on August 20, 2010, 11:24:03 AM

Title: Plantago?
Post by: Stephenb on August 20, 2010, 11:24:03 AM

Anyone recognise this one? It looks like Plantago lanceolata or similar with almost black flower spikes. I saw it in a friend's garden. She had grown it for years but didn't know what it was. Sorry for the picture quality:

Title: Re: Plantago?
Post by: Maggi Young on August 20, 2010, 10:18:48 PM

I don't think I've ever seen such a thing with such dark flowers, Stephen. Smarter than your average plantago, for sure..... good head, nice foliage....

Title: Re: Plantago?
Post by: Panu on August 20, 2010, 10:57:50 PM

The inflorescense reminds me of Cyperaceae, could it be Carex? Just guessing...

Title: Re: Plantago?
Post by: Stephenb on August 21, 2010, 11:38:40 AM

Good guess! It doesn't seem to be Carex nigra (the obvious choice) though. 

Title: Re: Plantago?
Post by: Maggi Young on August 21, 2010, 12:07:28 PM

The leaves suggest Plantago lanceolata, very firmly though, don't they?
I'm puzzled.... again!

Title: Re: Plantago?
Post by: TheOnionMan on August 21, 2010, 01:20:54 PM

Stephen, just checked IPNI.ORG, and there are 1800+ names for Plantago, it's a huge genus.  There exists entries for P. nigritella (resembling the orchid?) and S. nigricans (Plantago lanceolata var. nigricans), maybe Maggi is on the right track.

Title: Re: Plantago?
Post by: Stephenb on August 21, 2010, 07:16:13 PM

Thanks, Mark - good move! Yes, I'm sure it's a Plantago, but can't find any pictures on a quick search for nigricans and nigritella.

Title: Re: Plantago?
Post by: TheOnionMan on August 21, 2010, 08:14:54 PM

Quote from: Stephenb on August 21, 2010, 07:16:13 PM

Thanks, Mark - good move! Yes, I'm sure it's a Plantago, but can't find any pictures on a quick search for nigricans and nigritella.

Actually, I'm not sure.  It might be a Plantago, but the branched inflorescence makes it look like a Carex, so maybe it is a Carex as Panu suggests?  If you start going through Carex, IPNI.ORG only lists approximately 8600 names! :o ;D

Title: Re: Plantago?
Post by: Maggi Young on August 21, 2010, 08:30:11 PM

Stephen, were you aware of the foliage being harsh and sedge-like? Because t it doesn't look that way to me and even Carex s wilth broader, lusher leaves, like Cc platyphyllus, siderosticha or plantaginea still have rather coarse, wiry foliage. The mystery plants leaves look to me like more "regular" leaves, with a soft, pliable, non- wiry substance to them, which is what is heading me away from Carex. Plantain leaves, in fact  :D

Title: Re: Plantago?
Post by: Stephenb on August 21, 2010, 08:37:37 PM

Unfortunately, it was some time ago now. I didn't bother looking more carefully as I felt sure it was a Plantago at the time  ???

Title: Re: Plantago?
Post by: TheOnionMan on August 21, 2010, 08:54:22 PM

Quote from: Stephenb on August 21, 2010, 08:37:37 PM

Unfortunately, it was some time ago now. I didn't bother looking more carefully as I felt sure it was a Plantago at the time  ???

Maggi, I see what you say about the foliage, but the more I look at the inflorescence the more it speaks Carex to me, or some other Cyperaceae, or even a Juncaceae like Luzula nigricans (= Luzula sudetica), but these are just wild guesses.  Of course, it could be a Plantago :-X ::)