"Isn't that a weed?" I asked, staring at the gangly plant growing with vigor between the cracks of the patio. The white flowers dangled from tall stems that waved in the wind.
My friend shrugged and chuckled. "One person's weed is another person's wildflower." She reached down and tore off one of the leaves spread out at the plant's base. "Did you know these leaves can ease the itch of insect bites?" She took hold of my arm that was covered with a daily dose of bites, and rubbed the leaf on the annoying red patches.
"Wow! It really does work. What's it called?"
"Ribwort plantain. And it can do much more than ease an insect bite."
Ribwort plantain, part of the Plantaginaceae family, has thin, wiry stems that stretch to about 20 inches in height from its base of spear-shaped leaves that spread out to form a rosette. At the top of these stems, which are actually hollow, oval-shaped flower heads with protruding white stamens gradually turn brown, providing seed for birds in the winter and to propagate naturally. The root system is dense with a taproot.
The plant prefers disturbed ground. Its name originates from the narrow, ribbed, lanceolate leaves (lance-shaped) which have parallel veins. The leaves taper to a point at the apex as well as the base and are slightly wider below the middle. It's also known as narrowleaf plantain, English plantain, ribleaf, lamb's tongue, and buckhorn.
Originating in Eurasia and Norway, this so-called weed can be found just about anywhere but lawns, fields, and grasslands in particular. It's an invasive species that takes over cultivated grounds and tracks along the edges of fields. It pops up regularly in cultivated lawns, giving it the label of "weed." Ribwort plantain flowers between April and October.
The plant is tolerant of varied growing conditions. It's resistant to heat and drought, though it does grow better in a cooler climate. It tolerates flooding but is sensitive to poor drainage, and it tolerates winter well enough (like the rest of us).
Ribwort plantain is a nutritional plant. In fact, with high contents of calcium as well as vitamins A, C, and K, this leafy plant could pass as a vegetable. You can eat the young leaves raw, though the larger, more mature leaves are tough and better consumed cooked.
To prepare ribwort plantain, boil it for 3 minutes, then strain it and squeeze out the excess water. Finely chop the cooked ribwort plantain. Blanch in salted water, strain and set aside. Next, fry some onion and garlic until soft. Add the blanched leaves, stir for about 30 seconds, and add to your preferred tomato sauce.
Note: Caution is always advisable when first consuming something wild. Ribwort plantain may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, and skin reactions. Large quantities can cause more serious side effect like anaphylaxis. Consume with care.
Ribwort plantain is full of sugars, minerals, and proteins. It is often used as an antihistamine, and has multiple medicinal uses.
The plant is host to many varieties of bugs that lay their eggs on the leaves for the hatching larvae to feed. The leaves contain an iridoid glycoside which accumulates in the caterpillars to make them unpalatable to predators.
The plant is susceptible to powdery mildew.
I'm sure we've all enjoyed time blowing the seed heads off dandelions and watching them float away in the breeze. Ribwort plantain provides another children's game similar to conkers -- which is a traditional game in Great Britain involving the seeds of horse chestnut trees. The two games apply the idea of striking the other player's seed and breaking it. In Edinburgh, it's also known as the 1 o'clock gun, a game played after the guns of Edinburgh Castle go off every day.
Mother Nature has a lot of secret gems that many of us take for granted. Before treating something like an annoying weed and eradicating it, we should take the time to understand it better and discover the benefits we can enjoy.