Plantains, Figworts, Foxglove and Speedwells 247Plantago lanceolata Linnaeus
ribwort plantain, rib-grass,slánlus,St Patrick’s leaf
Europe, northern and central Asia; cosmopolitan weed
Plantago major Linnaeus
greater plantain, St Patrick’s leaf
Europe, northern and central Asia;
cosmopolitan weed
The commonest species of plantain in the British
Isles, both for the most part followers of human
activity but probably indigenous in marshes
(Plantago major) and in sea-cliff sward (P. lance-
olata), these two have naturally been the nor-
mal choices for the purpose for which this genus
is renowned in many parts of the world (includ-
ing Sikkim and Peru): the ability to stop bleed-
ing from an external injury in a matter of min-
utes. Usually it is found sufficient for just a fresh
leaf to be crushed (or chewed) for enough of the
healing chemicals to be released, but to treat
severer haemorrhages the whole plant has some-
times been boiled; alternatively, an ointment
has been produced and applied. The two spe-
cies seem to have been used throughout
the British Isles for this primary purpose,
and interchangeably.
In Britain that famed effectiveness
has led the leaves to be applied as
well to rashes (Somerset^4 ) and
soreness from any rubbing (South
Uist in the Hebrides^5 and elsewhere
in Scotland^6 ), piles (Devon^7 ) and
burns (Devon,^8 Shetland^9 ). Cred-
ited with antiseptic properties^10 and
the ability to prevent festering, they
have been valued further for treating
varicose veins (Montgomeryshire^11 ) and
for drawing the pus out of an infected
wound or swelling (Gloucestershire,^12
Plantago major, greater plantain
(Brunfels 1530, p. 23)