Weed Seed: Plantago lanceolata (Ribgrass)

Family

Plantaginaceae

Common Name

Ribgrass

Regulation

Secondary Noxious, Class 3 in the Canadian Weed Seeds Order, 2016 under the Seeds Act.

Distribution

Canadian: Occurs in BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, QC and PE (Brouillet et al. 2016^Footnote 1)

Worldwide: Native to northern Africa, Europe, temperate Asia and south tropical Asia (USDA-ARS 2016^Footnote 2). Naturalized in eastern Asia, southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, North America and South America (USDA-ARS 2016^Footnote 2, CABI 2016^Footnote 3). Widespread in the United States (USDA-NRCS 2016^Footnote 4).

Duration of life cycle

Perennial

Seed or fruit type

Seed

Identification features

Size

• Seed length: 2.0 - 3.3 mm
• Seed width: 1.3 - 1.5 mm
• Seed thickness: 1.0 - 1.3 mm

Shape

• Seed elongate oval in outline, compressed, furrowed on ventral side

Surface Texture

• Smooth seed, with slight wrinkling, most are glossy

Colour

• Dark reddish-brown seed

Other Features

• Hilum is in the middle of a deep furrow on one side of the seed; dark tissue may remain attached to the hilum
• A low ridge is in the middle of the furrow
• Other side has a lighter central stripe that follows the furrow

Habitat and Crop Association

Clover fields, dry grasslands, old pastures, hayfields, old fields, forest openings, lawns, railway embankments, roadsides and disturbed areas, especially open dry areas (Cavers et al. 1980^Footnote 5, Darbyshire 2003^Footnote 6).

General Information

The first report of ribgrass in North America dates from 1829 in Nova Scotia (Cavers et al. 1980^Footnote 5). In New Zealand, cultivars have been developed for forage yield and suitability for livestock grazing (CABI, 2016^Footnote 3). Pollens are common allergens (Frankton and Mulligan 1993^Footnote 7).

Similar species

Psyllium (Plantago arenaria Waldst. & Kit.)

• Psyllium seeds are similar to those of ribgrass in size, reddish-brown colour, glossy surface, central furrow on the hilum side, and lighter central stripe on the other side.
• Psyllium seeds are a darker colour, lack the low ridge and dark tissue associated with the furrow, and the pale stripe is less prominent compared to ribgrass seeds.

Photos

Similar species