Plantago major
Plantain ( Plantago major)
The plantain ( Plantago major), or written Plantain, or Large plantain is a perennial plant which belongs to the family of the plantain family ( Plantaginaceae ). He is now a worldwide spread of plant and grows along roads, paths, squares, pastures, meadows and fields. Other common names for this plant are: Broadleaf Plantain, Great Plantain, broad roads, paths sheet Wegtritt, Wegetrene, ribs sheet Saurüssel, Mausöhrle, Arno gloss, arable weed.
Description
Plantain grows as a perennial herbaceous plant and reaches a height 3-25 cm. It forms a rhizome than Überdauerungsorgan. The arranged in a basal rosette of foliage leaves are spoon-shaped and palm size. The simple leaf blade is ovate to elliptic and glabrous to densely hairy short.
The flowering period extends from June to October. Terminally on a leafless inflorescence stem which is about as long as or shorter than the leaves and at most twice as long as the fruit stand, standing upright a ähriger inflorescence. The flowers are odorless. The greenish to whitish stamens are about 2 mm long and the inverted heart-shaped anthers are about as long as wide. The pollen is spread by wind pollination.
The fruit generally contains from 6 to 30, often up to 46 seeds.
Ecology
The plantain is a deciduous Hemikryptophyt and a rosette plant with axillary flowers sprouts and Zugwurzeln. He is a deep-rooting with a little lasting primary root; Therefore, the rooting is mainly from the short axis rosette.
The flowers are wind-pollinated pronounced vorweiblichen from " Langstaubfädigen type". The pollen has cement residues. The scars are long haired and almost fiederig. The pollen sacs are closed in damp weather. Per inflorescence about 2 to 3 million pollen grains are produced. By the wind and spread to the large number plantain pollen are important cause of allergic rhinitis. Self-pollination is possible. The flowering period extends from June to October.
The fruits are six to zwölfsamige deck capsules. The plantain is a wind - and animal spreader; primarily the expansion of the pores, but slides on the sticky seeds which adhere to animal paws, shoes and wheels. In addition, processing distribution for example, by granivores. Fruit ripening is between July and September. The seeds are light and cold to germinate.
Occurrence
Originally native to Europe, this species has now spread worldwide. As the plantain belongs (as well as the plantain ) " walk-on " to the plants, it is often an indicator of committed locations. He once came with European settlers to North America and was named by the Indians as " footsteps of the white man ". This plant is very resistant. It also grows in pavement cracks and frequently trodden lawns. The plantain is not very sensitive to salts and can grow up to 80 cm Thanks to its long roots on compacted soils.
Subspecies
There are three subspecies.
The common Plantain, also called the large plantain ( Plantago major subsp. Major) is the subspecies with the largest leaves and 5-9 leaf veins.
In salt marshes and salt meadows of Kalisalzgruben - Plantain (. Plantago major subsp winteri ) grows at a 3 - annoying leaf blade.
Called The Vielsamige Plantain ( Plantago major subsp. Intermedia ( DC.) Arcang. ), Also Plantago uliginosa or Small plantain, is a subspecies with narrower leaves and 3-5 leaf veins and greater number of seeds, which is indigenous to Finland. It thrives there, of clay, silt and sand shores. Plantago major subsp. intermedia but is considered by some researchers as a separate species Plantago intermedia.
Medical effects
The plantain is a common folk remedy. It contains mucilage (polysaccharides ), iridoid glycosides, particularly aucubin, bitters, tannins, polyphenols, and other active ingredients. The juice or pulp of the leaves reduces inflammation and promotes wound healing. Recent studies also point to a possible antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of Plantago major. The juice was popularly used in gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, urinary tract bleeding, Atemwegskatarrh and insect bites of all kinds Efficacy in these applications has not been sufficiently proven.