Plantago ovata
Desert indianwheat
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Plantago ovata (Desert indianwheat) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family.
Desert indianwheat is a California native annual herb found in desert regions at elevations between 100 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces delicate white to cream-colored flowers in dense, short-cylindric woolly spikes 0.5 to 3.5 centimeters long. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, the plant develops silky, dense hairs across its structure. Its leaves are linear to oblong, 2 to 17 centimeters long, with entire margins or occasionally few minute teeth. The seeds are small, paired, and approximately 2 to 2.5 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated - no sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: San Bernardino, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, Inyo, Ventura, Monterey, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tuolumne, Fresno, Merced, Alameda, Kings, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Orange, Lake, El Dorado
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 ovata native to California?
Yes. Plantago ovata is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Plantago ovata grow?
Plantago ovata occurs in San Bernardino, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, Inyo, Ventura and other counties.
What plant family does Plantago ovata belong to?
Plantago ovata is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Plantago.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.