Flora of Israel: Plantago ovata

Plantago ovata, Ovate Plantain,
Hebrew: לחך סגלגל, Arabic: لسان الحمل البيضوي

Scientific name:   Plantago ovata Forssk.
Common name:   Ovate Plantain
Hebrew name:   לחך סגלגל
Arabic name:   لسان الحمل البيضوي
Family:   Plantaginaceae, לחכיים


Life form:   Therophyte, annual
Leaves:   Rosette, entire
Flowers:   Green
Flowering Period:   January, February, March, April
Habitat:   Steppes and deserts
Distribution:   The Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes, Deserts and extreme deserts
Chorotype:   Irano-Turanian – Saharo-Arabian
Summer shedding:   Ephemeral


Derivation of the botanical name:

Plantago, plantagin (stem), a “plantain”.

ovata, egg-shaped, with the broad end down.
The Hebrew name: לחך, lahakh, the plantain, New Hebrew, from לחך, lahakh, was licked up, was lapped up, was eaten up.

  • The standard author abbreviation Forssk. is used to indicate Peter Forsskål (1732 – 1763), a Swedish explorer, orientalist and naturalist.