NativeTech: Native American Technology and Art
Indigenous Plants & Native Uses in the Northeast
PLANTAIN PLANTAIN
(Plantago species)
COMMON PLANTAIN

PLANTAIN

Food: Soak edible leaves in salt water and boil until tender, seeds can be ground into a flour.

Medicine: : A tea from the leaves relieved sore eyes. A charm from the powdered roots was used to prevent snakebite.

Note: Also called Englishman's-Foot; although some varieties of Plantain have been introduced by Europeans, indigenous species are recognized by Native Americans for food and medicine. Includes Common (P. major), English (P. lanceolata) and Hoary (P. media) varieties.

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© 1994 - Tara Prindle
unless otherwise cited.