Plantago major L.
Plantago major
The broadleaf plantain is a herbaceous, perennial plant with a rosette of leaves 15–30 centimeters in diameter. Each leaf is oval-shaped, 5–20 cm long and 4–9 cm broad, with an acute apex, a smooth margin, and a distinct petiole. The flowers are small, greenish-brown with purple stamens, produced in a dense spike 5–15 cm long on top of a stem 13-20 cm tall. The plant is wind-pollinated and propagates primarily by seeds, which are very small and oval-shaped with a bitter taste. Each plant can produce up to 20,000 seeds.
Details
Lamiales
Plantaginaceae
Plantago
Plantain contains phytochemicals including allantoin, aucubin, ursolic acid, flavonoids, and asperuloside. These compounds are believed to have various health benefits, including wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties.
The mature plant contains pliable and tough fibers that can be used in survival situations to make small cords, fishing line, sutures, or braiding. The leaves are edible as a salad green when young and tender but quickly become tough and fibrous as they get older. The leaves can be cooked in stews. The seeds are so small that they are tedious to gather, but they can be ground into a flour substitute or extender. The plant is also used in herbal medicine for skin poultices on wounds, sores, or insect stings. The root is used for fever and respiratory infections.
Spring to Summer
Early Spring or Fall
13-70 cm
Greenish-brown with purple stamens
Lawns, fields, roadsides, and other disturbed areas. It thrives in compacted or disturbed soils.
Info
Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.
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