Plantago eriopoda
Hairy fruited plantain
(c) James Stevens, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plantago eriopoda (Hairy fruited plantain) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by distinctive long arched spikes and robust perennial habit.
Hairy fruited plantain is a California native perennial found in the northern Klamath Ranges and northern California Ranges in moist, alkaline places at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces white flowers in narrow cylindrical spikes that become slightly arched with age. Growing with robust stems 10 to 25 centimeters tall, it develops a stout caudex with 1 to 2 taproots. Its leaves are oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic-ovate, 5 to 25 centimeters long, with minute wavy edges that taper to a wide petiole. The plant produces 2 to 4 seeds approximately 2 millimeters long, giving it its distinctive "hairy fruited" character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; distinctive long arched spikes and robust perennial habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, alkaline places
Elevation: < 1000 m
Outside California: to Canada, central United States
Bloom period
Plantago eriopoda blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Carex: Plantago has broad ribbed leaves in rosettes; Carex has narrow grass-like leaves in 3 ranks.; vs Rumex: Plantago leaves have parallel veins; Rumex leaves have a prominent central midvein with branching veins.; vs Dudleya: Plantago has thin ribbed leaves; Dudleya has thick succulent leaves.; vs Micropus: Plantago has dense cylindrical spikes; Micropus has woolly flower heads in leaf axils.; vs Amsinckia: Plantago has parallel-veined leaves in rosettes; Amsinckia has bristly alternate leaves on upright stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Plantago eriopoda native to California?
Yes. Plantago eriopoda is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Plantago eriopoda bloom?
Plantago eriopoda blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Plantago eriopoda belong to?
Plantago eriopoda is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Plantago.
What habitat does Plantago eriopoda grow in?
Plantago eriopoda grows in Moist, alkaline places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.