Angiosperms occupy a very large approximately 80 percent of all known green plant in the universe (California Native Plant Society, 1965). Angiosperms are vascular seed plants in which the ovule is fertilized and develop into a seed in an ovary. The family Plantaginaceae belongs to the major group Angiosperms, the flowering plants. All species that are contained within the plant list belong to the 110 genera. The plant list encompasses 6,919 scientific plant names of species rank for the Plantaginaceae family. Out of all these species, only 1,115 are accepted species names (University and Jepson Herbaria, 2017). In addition, the Plant List also contains a further 1,258 scientific plant names of infraspecific rank for the family Plantaginaceae. The Plant List cannot include a complete list of names of the infraspecific rank. These are mainly added because of the species rank are synonyms of the accepted infraspecific names (California Native Plant Society, 1965). The following are some of the examples of angiosperms growing in southern California: Plantago erecta and Plantago lanceolate
Plantago erecta
Plantago erecta, a dicot, is an annual herb that is native to California however it also grows in another area outside California. This plant has some common names which include: foothill plantain, dwarf plantain, California plantain, and English plantain. Below is the Scientific Classification of the plant.
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Taxonomic classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asteroids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Plantago
Species: P. erecta
Binomial name: Plantago erecta
Plant characteristics: Leaves characteristics: the Plantago erecta plant leaves are filiform to linear and may have small remote denticulations, and the leaves are 3-12 cm long. Flowers description: the flower sepals are scarious-margined, oblong in shape and 3 mm lengthwise. It also has spreading corolla lobes 1-2mm long. The color of the flower is a dull brown. The plant has translucent flowers clustered on a stalk. The plant habitat: the plant commonly grows in open and dry places which are below 2500ft. The plant grows well and thrives best in sandy, serpentine or clay soils especially on grassy slopes and open woodlands. These growth conditions are available in Baja California, California, and Oregon. The plant may also be found in the Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral last cismontane California (California Native Plant Society, 1965).
Human uses of the plant: There about 200 species of Plantago. Plantago species have been used as herbal medicines since in time memorial. These have very many uses. The herb can be used as an antimicrobial, astringent, demulcent, anti-inflammatory. Moreover, the plant can be used as anti-histamine. The leaves poultices are very helpful in cases of poison-ivy rashes, minor sores, insect bites, and boils. It is also claimed to cure snake bites. Inside the human body, plant herb can be formulated, as a tea, syrup or tincture and used to treat coughs and even bronchitis (BeritSamuelsen, 2000).
Plantago lanceolata
The plant is an example of one of the many plant species commonly found in Southern California, which belongs to the family Plantaginaceae. The plant is commonly known by several common names such as ribwort plantain, lamb’s tongue and narrow leaf. Below is the taxonomic classification of the plant.
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asteroids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Plantago
Species: P. lanceolata
Binomial name: Plantago lanceolata
The leaves: the basal leaves are erect or lanceolate spreading with strong parallel veins narrowed to a short petiole. The flower is 4 mm long with green calyx and a brownish corolla with long white in color stamens. Each flower can produce a maximum of two seeds (BeritSamuelsen, 2000). Plant habitat: Plantago lanceolata can grow from very dry meadows to places with the same conditions of plant growth as rainforest
Uses: Plantago lanceolata is often used in herbal teas and other herbal remedies. The tea prepared using the plant leaves is very efficacious in cough management. Also, it is used for the treatment of disorders of insect bites, skin, and respiratory tract infections. The plant herbal medication can be formulated as a syrup or tea and used by people internally. However, it can also be used externally as fresh leaves (BeritSamuelsen, 2000).
References
(1965). Retrieved April 28, 2018, from California Native Plant Society: www.cnps.org
BeritSamuelsen, A. (2000, July). The traditional uses, chemical constituents and biological activities of Plantago major L. A review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 71 (1-2), 1-21.
University and Jepson Herbaria . (2017, October 4). Retrieved from Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia: en.wikipedia.org
