This plant showed up among my ground covers. It looks very much like ribwort plantain (plantago lanceolata), both in terms of leaf shape as well as of the shape of flower stalk, but it is much softer in texture and the colour is grayish green, close to that of the members of the salvia family. Thanks, Olaf
Sorry, I should have said above: The leaves are much like plantago lanceolata and the flower stalks are like 'plantago major'.
Plantago maritima? Otherwise, perhaps a hybrid? Though I don't have any info that hybrid plantains occur.
No, Michael, the leaves of "mine" are quite subtle and velvety, not at all sedum like. I suspect, that I have given everybody a red herring by referring as much to plantain as I did. I am beginning to believe that it may not even be related to plantain, despite the similarities. The stacking of the bases of the leaves to form a stalk is quite unlike plantain. But thanks for trying. Meanwhile I will keep that thing alive, until I know more about it or until it becomes a pest, whichever comes first. I just hope, that it will not seed out too much. Best, Olaf
Olafhenny, I may be right off the mark but.... To me it looks soft and hairy, I can just see tiny white flowers at the bottom of one spike.It also reminded me of a cereal. Think it may be Plantago Patagonica. Common name Indian wheat, Woolly Plantain. However I have no idea if it is in your area! http://ghs.gresham.k12.or.us/science/ps/nature/gorge/4petal/plan/indian.htm
I think Luddite has it with Plantago patagonica; from his link (my italics), "A native of North America, woolly-plantain is found from southern British Columbia south to California and Texas, and east to Saskatchewan" - so it is native in the Penticton area.
Thank you Michael. Now I can safely pull it and make both, you and Luddite, accessories to the murder of a weed. ;)
Okay, I have not pulled it yet, but it is definitely on death row, with pardon considered pending 'good behaviour'
Geez, Luddite -- we needed you here a few years ago -- re: this thread. I still recall puzzling and puzzling over that plant at the time.
