Plantaginaceae

A large diverse family of non-woody (herbaceous) terrestrial and rooted aquatic plants that can make their own food and lack specialized roots that might facilitate parasitism on other plants; includes Beardtongues, Cymbalaria, Foxgloves, Hedge-hyssops, Plantains, Shoreweed, Snapdragons, Speedwells, Toadflaxes, Turtlehead, and Water-starworts. Considerable controversy has surrounded which plants should be included in this family and several had formerly been placed in a separate family of their own.

Arrangement of flowers various. Flowers come in a great variety of shapes, colours and sizes, but usually produce both pollen and seeds, and are mostly bilaterally symmetric, but are symmetrical in all directions (radially) in Plantains, and are reduced in Mare’s-tail and Water-starworts. Sepals usually 4 or 5, fused. Petals usually 5, or occasionally appear to be 4 due to fusion of 2 upper lobes (e.g., Plantain and some Speedwells), fused to form 2 lips, sometimes with a basal tubular structure containing nectar (nectar spur), the lower lip sometimes with a bulge obscuring the throat (e.g., Snapdragon). Stamens usually 4, 2 long ones and two short, but sometimes only 2, a fifth sterile stamen sometimes present (Beardtongues). Stalks of the stamens attached to the petals. Pollen-producing structures (anthers) with 2 distinct chambers, and sometimes arrow-shaped. Carpels 2, fused, ovary located above the site of attachment of the other flower parts, stigma usually with 2 lobes. A nectar disk usually present, often accompanied by markings to guide pollinators to the nectar (but not in Plantains or Water-starworts which are respectively pollinated by the wind and water). Fruit usually a capsule that may open lengthwise or via a lid-like cap; rarely an achene or small nut.

Leaves simple, entire to variously toothed, alternate and spiral, or opposite, sometimes all basal, occasionally whorled. The veins on leaves mostly arising from both sides of the central vein (pinnate) but leaves sometimes roughly parallel-veined (Plantains). Stipules absent. Hairs various, but usually simple; if glandular, the stalk of the gland elongate and the tip enlarged, head-like, and round to elliptical, lacking vertical partitions.

Plants often producing chemicals that have a foamy quality when mixed vigorously with water and sometimes also producing chemicals used as medicines. Family most diverse in temperate areas.