58 



FIG. 24. 



PLANTAIN, BLACK PLANTAIN, RIB-GRASS, OR RIB-WORT. 

 Plantago lanceolata. 



This plant was once very generally believed to be a favorite food of 

 cattle, yet the opinion of most agriculturists is against it. It is con- 

 sidered a bad weed, especially when it appears in lawns. Numerous 

 inquirers ask what it is, and how to get rid of it. It is a perennial or 

 biennial, with a short thick root-stock, of erect growth, or, more gener- 

 ally, lying on the ground as a rosette of leaves. At the base of the 

 leaves there are tufts of brown hair; and the leaves themselves are long, 

 narrow, and tapering, with prominent veins, or ribs running lengthwise ; 

 hence some of the popular names. The flower-stalk is slender and 

 channelled, is without leaves, and terminates in a dense spike. The 

 stamens project from the inconspicuous flowers, giving a whitish appear- 

 ance to the whole head. The seeds are enclosed in small pods, each con- 

 taining two seeds. The seeds are about 1-12 of an inch long, brown and 

 shiny, with a grove on one side, in the centre of which is a black spot. 

 The opposite side is rounded, as are also the ends (Fig. 24, a). An aver- 

 age plant produces 1,200 seeds. 



Time of flowering, June -September. 



Time of seeding, July -September. 



Closely allied to this plant is the Broad Plantain (Plantago major), 

 which has broad oval leaves and very long tapering spikes. 



The seeds of both of these weeds are very common in clover and 

 grass seed ; and persons buying these seeds or lawn mixtures, should 

 examine closely and guard carefully against plantain seed. 



Eradication. If the plants are not numerous, cut below the crown 

 with a spud. If they are, use treatment outlined for Mustard (Fig. 15), 



