Plantago leiopetala

Madeira plantain
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Plantaginaceae
Genus:	Plantago
Species:	P. leiopetala
Binomial name
Plantago leiopetala Lowe

Plantago leiopetala is a herbaceous perennial, caulescent with a thick woody, white pupescent stem up to 6 cm in height, bearing the bases of old petioles and scapes. Lanceolate, glabrous or glabrescent leaves up to 21 cm in length, borne in rosette at end of stem. Spikes, 1–3 cm, supported by scapes, 30 cm in length. Flowers with generally glabrous sepals, sometimes shortly villous above, corolla-lobes 2.1–3 mm. Flowers from March to July.^[1][2]

Distribution

A rare plant endemic to the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo. It inhabits cliffs and rocky slopes on the north coast of Madeira from São Jorge west to Porto do Moniz and on higher peaks and rocky areas of Porto Santo.

Gallery

• 
  Plantago leiopetala, cultivated plants.
• 
  Plantago leiopetala, a whole, branched plant with inflorescences at an early stage with stigmas.
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  Plantago leiopetala, inflorescence at an early stage with stigmas.
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  Plantago leiopetala inflorescence at medium stage with both stamens and stigmas.
• 
  Plantago leiopetala with stamens.
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  Plantago leiopetala inflorescences at a later stage with stamens.
• 
  Vertical cliffs facing the sea are the habitat for Plantago leiopetala. Porto Moniz.

References

1. • Press, J. R. and M. J. Short. Flora of Madeira. Natural History Museum, UK. 1994. ISBN 0-11-310017-5.
2. • Flora Endémica da Madeira, Roberto Jardim, David Francisco, Múchia, Publicações, 1ªed, 2000, Portugal, ISBN 972-8622-00-7

External links

• http://botany.cz/cs/plantago-leiopetala/
• http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-2569815
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore?term=Plantago+leiopetala
• http://www.rareplants.de/shop/popuplargeimage.asp?strImage=11259.jpg&strImageType=product&strPageTitle=Plantago leiopetala (Madeira Plantain)