Plantaginaceae (II)

The plantain family (Plantaginaceae) is a family that in traditional taxonomy consists of only three genera: Bougueria, Littorella, and Plantago. This family includes 270 species, with the genus Plantago already containing more than 260 species. They are predominantly herbaceous, which occur worldwide from cold regions to the tropics. They are found in a variety of habitats, mostly in humid places, but also in alpine and semi-alpine areas to coastal areas.

The leaves of the genus Plantago are parallel-veined in most species, which is more characteristic of monocots. Most species in Western Europe have their leaves together in a rosette. The plants belonging to this genus have been used in herbal medicine since prehistoric times.