Question: Hi. This plantain is growing at the edge of our driveway in Tolland County, Connecticut. I am wondering if it …
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Question
Hi. This plantain is growing at the edge of our driveway in Tolland County, Connecticut. I am wondering if it is Plantago rugelii. Is the reddish-purple color near the base of the petioles sufficient for distinguishing this species from P. major, or are there other traits I need to consider? Thank you for your help!
Answer
Dear DavidJ, good morning. Unfortunately, petiole color is not sufficient for a confident determination. There are differences in seed number per capsule and seed size, but the easiest way to tell Plantago rugelii from P. major is the where the pyxis (the fruit) splits open. In P. rugelii, the line of dehiscence is near the base of the fruit (rather than the middle in P. major). If you look at the little fruits (which you photographed) with magnification, you can see an horizontal line around the fruit itself where it splits open. Just identify if it is near the base or near the middle. Best wishes.
