Plantago aristata Michx.

Hairy annual with persistent elongated taproot. Lvs all radical but not rosulate, broadened at base with petiole ill-defined, 4–10 cm × 1–4 mm, narrow-linear, entire, pilose, sometimes sparsely so, with tuft of woolly hairs at base; main vein 1; apex acute. Scapes 10–20 cm long, terete, ± dark-villous. Spikes 3–6 cm long, cylindric. Bracts very conspicuous, to 2 cm long, linear-subulate, hairy outside; margins membranous; apex rounded to truncate. Sepals c. 3 mm long, ± broad-elliptic, pilose; margins hyaline. Corolla tube = calyx; lobes c. 2 mm long, ovate, ± reflexing. Stamens glabrous, scarcely exserted. Style densely hairy, exserted. Capsule 2.5–3 mm long, ellipsoid, 2-seeded. Seeds 2.2–2.9 mm long, ellipsoid, reddish brown, with inner surface strongly concave and hilum resembling a figure of 8.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]