Plantains can be found almost everywhere. However, these are by no means weeds, but wild herbs with healing properties.
Plantain (Plantago) meets us on every walk. The wild herb is generally given little attention and its healing properties are underestimated. The plants can be found on almost every roadside - almost worldwide. Plantain occurs in different forms as herb or shrub. A special feature are the parallel leaf veins, which distinguish the plantain from most plants. The most important species to be found in Germany are presented in more detail below.
Origin of Plantain
Plantain is found in its various species almost all over the world. The German name probably suggests that the herb is more frequently encountered along roadsides.
When the first Europeans reached the American continent, the plantain almost followed on their heels. That's why Native Americans called it "white man's footprints". The scientific term "plantago" also follows a derivation from the Latin "planta" for "sole of the foot".
Plantain species at a glance
There are about 190 species of plantain around the world. In Germany, the term plantain is commonly equated with two species. The buckhorn and broadleaf plantains are the most widespread and can also be found all over the world today. This is not least due to the fact that these are extremely hardy and robust plants.
Plantain
Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) is important as a medicinal herb. The herb found in meadows and along roadsides can provide relief from insect bites or blisters on the feet. It is also quite common to use it as a culinary herb.
Growing plantain in the garden
The buckhorn needs a warm and sunny location. A fresh and slightly acidic soil is the ideal substrate. Sowing can be done in late summer or spring. The seeds are covered about two centimeters with soil. After about two weeks, the seeds will begin to germinate. In summer the leaves can be harvestedwill. After pruning, they grow back over a large area.
Caring for plantain
The care of the herb is uncomplicated. Outdoor plants are usually sufficiently supplied with moisture by the rainwater. Fresh compost can be mixed into the soil when planting to support growth.
If you don't have your own garden, you can also cultivate buckhorn in pots. The maintenance effort is correspondingly higher. Potted plants need to be watered regularly. It is important to avoid waterlogging.
Harvest plantain
Ribwort plantain is a popular pasture plant and therefore fast-growing. If the plant is cut back, it will quickly sprout again. The young leaves are harvested. Older leafy greens are tough and unpalatable.
Storage plantain
After harvesting, the leaves should be used as soon as possible. Plantain will keep for a few days if wrapped in a plastic bag and placed in the fridge. If long-term storage is considered, the leaves can be frozen. If the leaves are to be used as a tea, they must be dried beforehand.
Plantain as a medicinal plant
The healing properties of plantain have been known since the Middle Ages. As a first-aid measure for insect bites, the fresh buckhorn is chewed up and the mass applied to the bite. Ribwort plantain has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, which is due to the ingredient aucubin.
Plantain leaves contain mucilage, which can help with coughing and congestion. For this purpose, some leaves are brewed into a tea. The drink also has a blood-purifying effect.
Plantain
Broad plantain (Plantago major) cannot deny its relationship to buckhorn. When it comes to healing effects, the plants are in no way inferior to each other. If you are looking for a distinctive distinguishing feature, you will find it with the leaves: While the buckhorn has long and narrow leaves, the leaves of the broad plantain are short and lie on the ground.
Tip: Before fighting plantain, you can benefit from its medicinal properties.
Special features of plantain
A special feature of the plant is its insensitivity to footsteps. Since the leaves are directly on the ground, they are hardly damaged when stressed and the plants can also assert themselves in inhospitable locations.
The attentive oneObservers will notice that the broad plantain is clearly in the majority along the wayside and that buckhorn is much rarer there.
Plantain growing
Plantain cultivation is widespread. If you want to try your hand at growing plantain, proceed as follows:
1. Choose a location (sunny, warm)
2. Prepare the soil (loose, light, humus)
3. Create planting holes (1.5 centimeters deep)
4. Put seeds in the holes lay
5. Fill planting holes with soil
6. Moisten soil (use plant sprayer)
Caring for plantain
The robust plants require little maintenance. The soil should not dry out completely. If some compost is mixed in when planting, growth can be promoted. The plants form offshoots quickly and reproduce themselves via their seeds.
Harvest plantain
The leaves are preferably harvested before the plantain starts to flower. Older leaves are less easy to use because they are tough and the parallel threads can be a hindrance when eating.
Tip: Fresh leaves are richer in valuable ingredients
Storage plantain
The leaves can be stored fresh, dried or frozen, similar to that described for plantain. The seeds must also be dried off completely before they are stored.
Broad plantain as a medicinal plant
Broad plantain has medicinal properties similar to buckhorn plantain, but is not considered a recognized medicinal plant. This is probably due to the less luxuriant growth and therefore more complex targeted cultivation.
Plantain leaves also help with insect bites or coughs. In addition, blisters can also be prevented by placing a sheet on the heel before putting on socks and shoes.
Plantain species occurring in Germany briefly presented
Medium Plantain
The middle plantain (Plantago media) is visually a mixture of broad and ribwort plantain. The leaves are wider than usual in ribwort plantain. The flower spikes are taller and bear white to pink flowers.
Tip: The common plantain is the only representative of the plant genus that has fragrant flowers.
Mountain Plantain
The mountain plantain (Plantago atrata) can reach a height of up to 15 centimeters. The leaves are narrow and slightly toothed. The plants are inat home in all mountainous landscapes of Europe and prefers moist, humus-rich and stony soil.
Bully plantain
The common plantain (Plantago arenaria) grows bushy and stands out with a growth height of up to half a meter. This plant lacks the rosette of leaves that is usually typical of plantain. The sandweed kingdom grows on dry sandy soils in southern and eastern Europe. In Germany there are increased occurrences in the Rhine area and on the Elbe.
European Strandling
The European strandling (Littorella uniflora) can spread like a lawn through its foothills. The leaves are in rosettes and can make up to 30 leaves per plant. The strandling needs a nutrient-poor substrate and thrives in lakes and ponds up to three meters deep. However, the plants that are widespread in Europe and on the Azores do not tolerate a high s alt content.
Ocean Plantain
The beach plantain (Plantago maritima) is found increasingly on the beaches of the northern hemisphere. The plants grow 40 centimeters high and form yellow-brown single flowers. The plants are widespread on the North Sea and B altic Sea coasts. Stocks are declining inland, which is why the plant is on the red list in Bavaria and Brandenburg.
Other plantain species and their distribution areas
| Plantain Art | Area of distribution |
|---|---|
| Psyllium plantain (Plantago afra) | Southern Europe, Africa, Canary Islands, Central Asia |
| White plantain ( Plantago albicans L.) | Southern Europe, Canary Islands, Western Asia. North Africa |
| Cornial plantain (Plantago amplexicaulis Cav.) | Southern Europe, North Africa, Canary Islands, Western Asia |
| Crow's foot plantain (Plantago coronopus) | Eurasia, North Africa, Australia, New Zealand |
| Plantain (Plantago holosteum) | Southern Europe, Western Asia |
| Indian psyllium (Plantago ovata) | Spain, Canaries, Madeira, Pakistan |
Using plantain in the kitchen
Most types of plantain can be used in the kitchen. Soups and sauces can be refined with fresh, young leaves. The leaves have a slightly bitter taste. The flower heads that have not yet blossomed can be eaten raw and steamed. The buds taste like mushrooms when cooked.
Tip: The seeds promise a special taste experience when sprinkled on bread and butter.
Homemade plantain honey
About 100 grams of young plantain leaves are washed and dried. These are placed in a kilogram of honey. The honey is placed in a bright but not full sun location for two to three months so that the aroma of the leaves is transferred to the honey.
Make your own plantain tincture for insect bites and skin injuries
A screw-top jar that closes well is filled about two-thirds full with washed and dried plantain leaves. The glass is filled to the brim with high-proof clear or white rum. After four to six weeks, the tincture can be poured off and stored in small, dark dripping glasses. The liquid can be easily applied to the wound or insect bite and can have a direct effect.