Plantago ovata var. fastigiata

Desert plantain

Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: annual · Native

Desert plantain is a California native annual found in the San Joaquin Valley, central western California, southern California (excluding Channel Islands), southeastern Sierra Nevada, and desert regions in sandy or gravelly areas, creosote-bush scrub, Joshua-tree woodland, and sagebrush scrub at elevations below 1,400 meters. Flowering from January to April, this plant produces small white to cream-colored flowers with green bract midribs arranged in distinctive compact spikes. Growing with slender stems 5 to 20 centimeters tall, it forms delicate, upright clusters in arid landscapes. Its leaves are narrow and elongated, forming basal rosettes typically 2 to 10 centimeters long, with smooth or slightly toothed margins. The fruits are small capsules containing numerous tiny seeds adapted to dry, open habitats.

Habitat: Sandy or gravelly areas, creosote-bush scrub, Joshua-tree woodland, sagebrush scrub

Bloom period: Jan-Apr

Elevation: < 1400 m

Bioregions: SnJV, CW, SW (exc ChI), SNE, D

California counties: Kern, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Inyo, Imperial, Riverside, San Diego, Orange, Kings, Los Angeles, Ventura, Fresno

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.