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Plantago debilis
Species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Plantago debilis is a species of herb native to Australia. Common names include shade plantain and weak plantain.
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Description
It grows as an annual or perennial herb up to 20 centimetres high, with green or white flowers and a slender taproot.[1][2]
Taxonomy
This species was first published by Robert Brown in his 1810 Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae. In 1916 Joseph Maiden and Ernst Betche demoted it to a variety of P. varia, but this was not accepted.[3]
Two varieties have been published, but it is unclear whether they are still recognised. P. debilis var. parvifolia was published as P. varia var. parvifolia by George Bentham in 1870.[4] In 1937 Robert Pilger transferred it to P. debilis,[5] thus implicitly publishing the autonym P. debilis var. debilis.[6] The specific epithet, debilis, is a Latin adjective, L. debilis,-is,-e, meaning "weak", "feeble", "frail".[7]
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Distribution and habitat
It is native to Australia, occurring in every state and territory.[8] It favours moist sandy soils.[1][2]
Aboriginal uses
The Noongar people of south west Western Australia heated and crushed the leaves to give a liquid that was used to make poultices for sprains, ulcers, and boils.[9]
References
External list
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