Prairie plantain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prairie plantain |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Plantago
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| Species: |
elongata
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Plantago elongata, also known as the prairie plantain or slender plantain, is a small plant that belongs to the plantain family.
This plant grows naturally across a large part of western North America. You can find it from British Columbia in Canada all the way down to California in the United States, and as far east as Minnesota. It loves wet places like vernal pools (temporary ponds that fill with water in spring) and damp meadows. It can even grow in salty or alkaline soils, like those found near beaches.
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About the Prairie Plantain
The prairie plantain is a small plant that lives for only one year. It grows a few long, thin leaves from its base, which can be up to 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) long. These leaves look like narrow threads.
Plant Structure and Flowers
The plant sends up thin, stem-like structures called inflorescences. These grow straight up and can reach about 18 centimeters (around 7 inches) tall. At the very top of each stem, there's a spike of tiny flowers.
Each flower has a round or oval-shaped outer layer called a calyx. This calyx is made of small leaf-like parts called sepals. These sepals are covered with thick, green bracts, which are like small, specialized leaves.
