Plantago debilis R.Br., Plantaginaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: weak plantain

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Short-lived perennial or annual herbs from a taproot.  Leaves basal, thin, narrowly oblanceolate to elliptic-oblanceolate or ovate, 3-15 cm long, 0.5-2 cm wide, 3-nerved, appressed pilose, margins remotely coarsely dentate to dentate, gradually or abruptly attenuate to a narrowly winged petiole 0.5-2 cm long.  Scapes (5-) 12-20 cm long, spikes (2-) 4-10 cm long, moderately appressed pilose, flowers not closely spaced, becoming widely spaced toward base, bracts ovate-elliptic, 1-1.5 mm long, pubescent toward base; sepals subequal, distinct, elliptic, scarious except for the green midrib, 1.5-2 (-3) mm long, more or less pubescent on midrib; corolla lobes reflexed, 0.8-1 mm long; ovary with 5 ovules.  Capsules ellipsoid, 2.4-3 mm long, dehiscent at or slightly below middle.  Seeds 1-5, yellow to dark brown, ca. 1 mm long, with a thin mucilaginous membrane" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1050-1051).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "sparingly naturalized in open, urban sites at 3 areas on O‘ahu" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1050-1051).  In Tonga, "uncommon in disturbed places" (Whistler, 1988; p. 33).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Australia (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1050-1051).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 10) "Likely to have been introduced with fodder". Vouchers cited: P.S. Green 2431 (K), P.S. Green 1366 (A), J.D. McComish 140 (K), J.D. McComish 56 (K)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Herbst, Derral R./Staples, George W./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 9) Voucher cited: W.R. Sykes 362/91 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1050-1051) Sparingly naturalized.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 115) Vouchers cited: Cribs 577, Däniker 404 (Z)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 56) Voucher cited: Parks 16242
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 56) Voucher cited: Setchell & Parks 15507

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	native	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1050-1051)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 947) "Occasional in poor, dry pastures and roadsides".

Control:  If you know of control methods for Plantago debilis, please let us know.