That low cluster of broad oval leaves growing right where everyone walks is Common Plantain (Plantago major). It is not the banana cousin you eat, but a tough little weed that actually thrives on being stepped on, sending up slim green seed spikes like tiny rat tails.
What it looks like
The leaves grow in a flat rosette pressed close to the ground, each one a broad oval up to about 15cm long with a smooth or slightly wavy edge. A clear set of parallel veins runs the length of each leaf, and if you tear one gently those veins pull out like stretchy strings. From the center rise thin stalks 10 to 30cm tall, packed top to bottom with tiny greenish flowers that ripen into dust-like seeds.
When and where
- Season: Leaves appear spring through fall, with seed spikes from early summer on.
- Habitat: Lawns, sidewalk cracks, driveways, trail edges, and any packed, trampled soil.
- Best time: Summer, when the seed spikes stand tall and easy to spot.
A traveler's footprint
Native peoples in North America called this plant "white man's footstep" because it sprang up along the trails and settlements of European arrivals, who brought its seeds on their boots and in their cargo. The seeds turn sticky when wet, helping them hitch rides on feet and tires. For centuries the crushed leaves were pressed onto scrapes and insect bites as a soothing folk remedy.
Spot one this weekend
Common plantain is Common in nearly every yard and path. Look down at the edge of any sidewalk and find the flat rosette of veined leaves. Run a finger along a seed spike to feel the gritty packed seeds, then check your shoe to see how it travels.