Mexican Plantain

Plantago australis Lamarck

Plantago australis Lamarck, Tabl. Encycl. Genres 1:339, 1792.

Examination of the Hawaiian material that has been generally called Plantago virginica L. shows that it has 3 seeds in a capsule, rather than 2 as in P. virginica, and is generally less hirsute. In general aspect it is much like P. virginica. Of Pacific Island plants this resembles very much a species in New Zealand referred to the American P. australis. The latter is found in many slightly differing forms, from Mexico to Chile and Argentina. Many of these have been given names. Rahn (1964) has described a number of them as subspecies, but has provided no key to them. Until he does the Hawaiian plants can be called P. australis Lamarck, sensu lato. Several of the specimens cited below in the Bishop Museum herbarium bear undated annotations as P. australis by M. F. Tessene, showing that he arrived independently at this determination.

Two quite distinguishable forms can be recognized, one from Hawaii, one from Maui.

The Hawaii form has elliptic to oblanceolate leaves on winged petioles 1–8 cm long, blade ovate remotely denticulate, glabrous to somewhat appressed hirsute; peduncle elongate in maturity to as much as 22 cm, appressed hirsute, especially above to almost glabrous, especially below, floriferous part of spike 10–15 cm long, rachis loosely woolly; corolla lobes erect, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate or mucronate, capsule oblong-ellipsoidal, circumscissile just below middle, seeds 3, dull black. The Maui specimens are larger and much more robust, with leaves up to 38 cm long, spikes more conspicuously woolly, peduncles to 36 cm long, spikes to 45 cm, denser, flowers tending to be subverticillately arranged.

SPECIMENS SEEN.—Hawaii I.: Kohala Mts., Kahua Ranch, 3900 ft [1200 m], Rubtzoff 2726 (US); Parker Ranch Paauhau, Kauahi’okaoka, Rock 3138 (BISH), Rock 3139 (BISH); Parker Ranch, Puu Kapu, 2700 ft [825 m], Ewart 265 (BISH); Halealoha, Forbes 799.H (BISH); South Kohala, Puukapu, Waimea, Hosaka 2140 (BISH); Volcano Kilauea, Forbes et al. in 1908 (BISH); Kilauea, Kipuka Puaulu, 4000 ft [1220 m], Meebold in 1932 (BISH); 1–3 miles [1.5–5 km] to left of Chain of Craters Road about 4 miles [6.5 km] down, Newell 241 (BISH); Paauhau No. 1, Rock 3246 (BISH); Paauhau No. 2, Rock in 1909 (BISH); E. of Humuula below Kalaeeha, 6200 ft [1900 m], Neal & Hart 691 (BISH); Volcano Road, Forbes 1042.H (BISH); top of Kulani, Forbes 984.H (BISH). Maui I.: Kaupo Gap, Crater of Haleakala in 1919, Forbes 1249.M (BISH); Ukulele, Forbes 169.M (BISH); ¼ mile [.4 km] south of Paliku Cabins, Haleakala Crater, 6200 ft [1900 m], Henrickson 3893b (US, BISH); Waikomoi, 4250 ft [1300 m], Neal & Hartt in 1933 (BISH); along Olinda Flume, Waikamoi, 4000 ft [1220 m], Crosby & Anderson 1783 (BISH).