2. Arnoglossum plantagineum Raf. (Indian plantain)
Cacalia
plantaginea (Raf.)
Shinners
C. tuberosa Nutt.
Pl. 296 h, i;
Map 1247
Rootstock
sometimes somewhat tuberous-thickened, also with somewhat fleshy roots. Stems
0.5–1.6 m tall, angled in cross-section, usually with conspicuous, reddish
purple longitudinal lines, not glaucous. Leaves thickened and somewhat leathery
or papery in texture. Basal and lower leaves long-petiolate, the blades 8–20 cm
long, elliptic to ovate, unlobed, the tip rounded to bluntly pointed, tapered
at the base, the margins entire or less commonly shallowly toothed, the
venation appearing more or less parallel with 7–10 main veins diverging from
the base and converging toward the tip, glabrous, not glaucous. Upper leaves
short-petiolate, ovate to narrowly obovate, the margins usually entire, tapered
at the base. Involucre 7–10 mm long, the inner bracts with a sharp, winglike,
dorsal keel, green, usually with a white dorsal band and tip, the outer series
of a few minute, ascending and incurved bracts toward the tip of the stalk of
the head. Corollas 8–11 mm long, white or cream-colored. 2n=54. May–August.
Scattered, but
apparently absent from portions of the Glaciated Plains Division and the
Mississippi Lowlands (Ohio to Louisiana west to South Dakota and Texas;
Canada). Upland and occasionally bottomland prairies, calcareous glades, tops
of bluffs, savannas, and openings of mesic to dry upland forests; also
pastures, railroads, and roadsides.