Desert indianwheat

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Blond Plantain
• Indian plantago
• Indian plantain
• blond psyllium
• blonde ispaghula
• ispaghul
• ispaghula
• psyllium
• spogel seeds

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Plantago ovata var. fastigiata
• Plantago ovata var. insularis
• Plantago decumbens var. viridis
• Plantago trichophylla
• Plantago ovata f. linearifolia
• Plantago insularis var. scariosa
• Plantago ovata var. linearifolia
• Plantago insularis var. fastigiata
• Plantago ovata var. decumbens
• Plantago fastigiata var. brunnea
• Plantago brunnea
• Plantago scariosa
• Plantago ispaghul
• Plantago gooddingii
• Plantago decumbens
• Plantago declinata
• Plantago fastigiata
• Plantago insularis
• Plantago ovatifolia
• Plantago monspeliensis
• Plantago mauritii
• Plantago leiocephala

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Plantago ovata, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Lamiales. Ultimately, it is a member of the family Plantaginaceae and the genus Plantago.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several different regions. In Middle Europe, it can be found growing within Germany. Its range extends into Southwestern Europe, specifically throughout Spain. Additionally, it is well-established across Northern Africa in Algeria. Finally, the species is also documented in the North African nations of Libya and Egypt.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Plantago ovata is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse and often harsh environmental conditions. It thrives across a broad elevational gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum altitude of 1200 m AMSL. This species is specifically adapted to colonize challenging landscapes, finding suitable habitats in desert regions, mountainous terrains, and areas dominated by sand or stony places. Such a distribution highlights its ability to endure nutrient-poor or arid substrates where other vegetation might struggle to persist.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

desert, mountains, sand, stony places

Life history

The life history of Plantago ovata is characterized by a variable lifecycle that can manifest as an annual, biennial, or perennial depending on environmental conditions and regional climatic patterns. As a plant that typically completes its development within a single growing season under favorable conditions, it follows a rapid progression from seed germination to flowering and subsequent seed dispersal. In more stable or temperate environments, it may exhibit a biennial habit, focusing its initial year on vegetative establishment before transitioning to a reproductive phase in the second year. The plant's development is heavily influenced by soil moisture and seasonal temperature fluctuations, which dictate its ability to persist across multiple seasons. This adaptability in its life cycle ensures that the species can effectively colonize diverse habitats, optimizing its reproductive success through timely seed production that aligns with its specific ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Plantago ovata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. This plant is a self-supporting species that does not function as a climber or a liana, nor does it exhibit any parasitic or epiphytic behavior, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, it is a low-growing plant with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 0.2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.2 m

Plant height min:

0.02 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological structure of Plantago ovata is characterized by a specialized leaf morphology designed for efficient resource acquisition and survival. The plant features leaves arranged in a distinct rosette pattern, a growth habit that optimizes light interception and space utilization near the soil surface. These leaves exhibit an elliptic form, displaying significant morphological plasticity in their dimensions. Specifically, the leaf length varies from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, while the width is notably narrow, ranging from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 0.4 cm. This elongated, narrow profile contributes to the plant's unique physiological efficiency in managing transpiration and environmental interactions.

Leaf arrangement :

rosette

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

0.4 cm

Leaf width min:

0.1 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Plantago ovata is characterized by its specialized flowering structures and seasonal timing. The plant produces an inflorescence in the form of a spike, which is notably compact, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.005 m to a maximum of 0.02 m. The flowers themselves exhibit a distinct brown color. The flowering period is variable but typically begins around February and concludes around April. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit that is classified as dry upon maturity.

Flower colour :

brown

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit dryness :

dry

Inflorescence :

spike

Inflorescence length max:

0.02 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.005 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Plantago ovata has 2 reported plant parts identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, leaf.

Seed

1. Cytogenetic and genome research
2. Allergy
3. Acta scientiarum polonorum. Technologia alimentaria
4. 3 Biotech
5. Medicina clinica

Leaf

1. Protoplasma
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Plantago ovata has 86 reported phytochemicals identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include PSYLLIUM, xylose, (+)-Boschniakine, (+)-Boschniakinic acid, (-)-L-Asparagine.

PSYLLIUM

1. Allergy
2. The British journal of nutrition
3. 3 Biotech
4. Medicina clinica
5. The American journal of clinical nutrition

xylose

1. Dr. Duke
2. 3 Biotech

(+)-Boschniakine

1. Dr. Duke

(+)-Boschniakinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-L-Asparagine

1. Dr. Duke

2,6-Diaminopimelic acid

1. The British journal of nutrition

Aucubin

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Behenic acid

1. Dr. Duke

CAMPESTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Plantago ovata has 227 reported activities identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Laxative, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutics
3. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia
4. World journal of gastroenterology
5. RSC advances

Laxative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Digestion
3. Genetics and molecular research : GMR
4. The American review of respiratory disease

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Przeglad gastroenterologiczny
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Pharmaceutics
2. RSC advances
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Przeglad gastroenterologiczny

Demulcent

1. Dr. Duke
2. Genetics and molecular research : GMR

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Plantago ovata has 24 reported investigations on conditions identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, laxative, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders.

Constipation

1. Acta scientiarum polonorum. Technologia alimentaria
2. Digestive diseases and sciences
3. Acta gastroenterologica Latinoamericana
4. Pharmacology
5. Acta bio-medica de L'Ateneo parmense : organo della Societa di medicina e scienze naturali di Parma

Irritable bowel syndrome

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine
2. Acta gastroenterologica Latinoamericana
3. Przeglad gastroenterologiczny

Laxative

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences
2. Genetics and molecular research : GMR
3. The American review of respiratory disease

Diarrhea

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine
2. Digestive diseases and sciences

Gastrointestinal disorders

1. Acta bio-medica de L'Ateneo parmense : organo della Societa di medicina e scienze naturali di Parma
2. Przeglad gastroenterologiczny

Ulcerative colitis

1. The American journal of gastroenterology
2. Przeglad gastroenterologiczny

Ldl cholesterol

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Type 2 diabetes

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Angina pectoris

1. Angiology

Blood glucose

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Preparations

Plantago ovata has 18 reported preparations identified across 18 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include seed husk, psyllium, 20 g granules with 200 ml water, 40 °C extract, 80 °C extract.

Seed husk

1. Cytogenetic and genome research
2. PloS one
3. Przeglad gastroenterologiczny

Psyllium

1. Acta scientiarum polonorum. Technologia alimentaria
2. Protoplasma

20 g granules with 200 ml water

1. International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity

40 °c extract

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

80 °c extract

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Meja seed priming technique

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Plantago ovata husk

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Psyllium (isabgol)

1. 3 Biotech

Aqueous extract of plantago ovata (po)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanolic and methanolic extracts

1. Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B