Blackseed plantain (Plantago rugelii) is a fibrous-rooted perennial with smooth lower leaves that are oval to elliptical in shape and purplish at the base of the leaf stalk. Leaf blades are often 1 to 3 inches wide and 3 to 6 inches long. Leaf margins may be wavy with five prominent veins. The rosette of leaves may lie close to the ground, crowding out desirable grasses. Flowers are arranged along more than half of the stem. Broadleaf plantain is very similar to blackseed plantain. Blackseed plantain leaves are less waxy than those of broadleaf plantain and mostly lacking in hairs. The petiole of blackseed plantain is frequently red-tinged at the base, while that of broadleaf plantain is usually not.

Perennial broadleaf turf weeds are capable of living more than two years. They thrive in weak, thin turf; golf fairways and roughs; home lawns; playfields; and industrial grounds. Proper turf maintenance is the key to control of this weed. First, select adapted turfgrass cultivars for your area and then properly fertilize, mow, and water to encourage dense growth.

• GROWTH SEASON / LIFE CYCLE
  • perennial weed
• GROWTH HABIT
  • rosette
    Figure 2
• LEAFLET NUMBER
  • one
• LEAF MARGIN
  • wavy toothed
• LEAF HAIRS
  • mostly lacking on upper surface, dense on lower surface
    Figure 5
• LEAF / LEAFLET SHAPE
  • oval / egg-shaped / elliptical; well-defined petiole, reddish at base
    Figure 3, Figure 4
• LEAF WIDTH
  • 1 inch to greater than 2 inches
    Figure 6
• LEAF VENATION
  • somewhat parallel
• LEAF ARRANGEMENT
  • whorled or basal rosette; dark markings on the leaf surface closest to the stem
• ROOT TYPE
  • many fibrous roots arise from the taproot
    Figure 1
• FLOWER COLOR
  • white; inconspicuous

Figure 1. Blackseed plantain root type.

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Figure 1. Blackseed plantain root type.

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Figure 2. Blackseed plantain growth habit.

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Figure 2. Blackseed plantain growth habit.

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Figure 3. Blackseed plantain leaf shape.

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Figure 3. Blackseed plantain leaf shape.

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Figure 4. Blackseed plantain leaf shape.

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Figure 4. Blackseed plantain leaf shape.

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Figure 5. Blackseed plantain leaf hairs.

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Figure 5. Blackseed plantain leaf hairs.

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Figure 6. Blackseed plantain leaf width.

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Figure 6. Blackseed plantain leaf width.

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