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''Plantago major'' (broadleaf plantain or greater plantain) is a species of plantago, family Plantaginaceae. The plant is native to most of Europe and northern and central Asia,〔Natural History Museum: (''Plantago major'' )〕〔''Flora Europaea'': (''Plantago major'' )〕〔''Flora of Pakistan'': (''Plantago major'' )〕 but has widely naturalised elsewhere in the world.〔〔Germplasm Resources Information Network: (''Plantago major'' )〕〔As a result, ''Plantago major'' has many common names. In addition to "broadleaf plantain" and "greater plantain", other common names include: Common Plantain, Broad-leaved Plantain, Cart Track Plant, Dooryard Plantain, Greater Plantago, Healing Blade, Hen Plant, Lambs Foot, Roadweed, Roundleaf Plantain, Snakeroot, Waybread, Wayside Plantain, andWhite Man's Foot Prints. -- 〕〔Joint Nature Conservation Committee: (Greater Plantain ''Plantago major'' Linnaeus )〕〔Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (Database )〕 ''Plantago major'' is one of the most abundant and widely distributed medicinal crops in the world. A poultice of the leaves can be applied to wounds, stings, and sores in order to facilitate healing and prevent infection. The active chemical constituents are aucubin (an anti-microbial agent), allantoin (which stimulates cellular growth and tissue regeneration), and mucilage (which reduces pain and discomfort). Plantain has astringent properties, and a tea made from the leaves can be ingested to treat diarrhea and soothe raw internal membranes. Broadleaf plantain is also a highly nutritious wild edible, that is high in calcium and vitamins A, C, and K. The young, tender leaves can be eaten raw, and the older, stringier leaves can be boiled in stews and eaten. ==Description== ''Plantago major'' is an herbaceous perennial plant with a rosette of leaves 15–30 cm in diameter.〔〔Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). ''Flora of Britain and Northern Europe''. ISBN 0-340-40170-2 〕 Each leaf is oval-shaped, 5–20 cm long and 4–9 cm broad, rarely up to 30 cm long and 17 cm broad, with an acute apex and a smooth margin; there are five to nine conspicuous veins. The flowers are small, greenish-brown with purple stamens, produced in a dense spike 5–15 cm long on top of a stem 13–15 cm tall (rarely to 70 cm tall).〔〔 Plantain is wind-pollinated, and propagates primarily by seeds, which are held on the long, narrow spikes which rise well above the foliage.〔 Each plant can produce up to 20,000 seeds, which are very small and oval-shaped, with a bitter taste. There are three subspecies:〔 *''Plantago major'' subsp. ''major''. *''Plantago major'' subsp. ''intermedia'' (DC.) Arcang. *''Plantago major'' subsp. ''winteri'' (Wirtg.) W.Ludw. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Plantago major」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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