Plantago truncata subsp. firma
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Annual · Not Native
Plantago truncata subsp. firma is a non-native California annual in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by unisexual flowers and compact spikes.
Plantago truncata subsp. firma is a naturalized annual plant found in northern Sierra Nevada Foothills, Sacramento Valley, northern San Joaquin Valley, and San Francisco Bay Area in moist meadows and ditches at elevations below 350 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces small white to pale green flowers in dense compact spikes. Growing with delicate, fine-haired stems up to 15 centimeters tall, it has a slender, upright form. Its leaves are narrowly oblanceolate, measuring 1 to 6 centimeters long, with entire or occasionally toothed margins, tapering smoothly to the base. The plant produces two seeds approximately 1.8 millimeters long, with male and female flowers appearing on the same plant.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; diagnostic unisexual flowers and compact spikes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist meadows, ditches
Elevation: < 350 m
California counties: Butte, Marin, San Joaquin, San Diego
Outside California: native to Chile
Bloom period
Plantago truncata subsp. firma blooms Apr-May.
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 truncata subsp. firma native to California?
No. Plantago truncata subsp. firma is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Plantago truncata subsp. firma bloom?
Plantago truncata subsp. firma blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Plantago truncata subsp. firma grow?
Plantago truncata subsp. firma occurs in Butte, Marin, San Joaquin, San Diego, at elevations of < 350 m.
What plant family does Plantago truncata subsp. firma belong to?
Plantago truncata subsp. firma is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Plantago.
What habitat does Plantago truncata subsp. firma grow in?
Plantago truncata subsp. firma grows in Moist meadows, ditches.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Plantago virginica — Dwarf plantain
- Plantago arenaria — Indian plantain
- Plantago aristata — Bristly plantain
- Plantago coronopus — Buckhorn plantain
- Plantago elongata — Annual coast plantago
- Plantago erecta — California plantain
- Pseudorontium cyathiferum — Deep canyon snapdragon
- Pseudorontium sp.
- Stemodia durantifolia — Purple stemodia
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.