Plantago antarctica
Decne. Mountain PlantainTaprooted perennial. Leaves rosetted, oblanceolate to elliptic-obovate, mostly 3–10 cm long and 1–3 cm wide, obtuse, pubescent, mostly 3–5-veined, margins usually toothed (sometimes obscurely); petiole indistinct. Spike cylindric, mostly 1.5–4 cm long, congested; peduncles 9–20 cm long, pubescent; bracts ovate, 1.4–1.7 mm long, obtuse, glabrous to pilose with ciliate margins. Sepals elliptic, usually 2.1–3.5 mm long, subequal; corolla-tube 2–2.5 mm long, lobes ovate, 1.3–1.8 mm long, acute or obtuse, spreading or reflexed; anthers 0.8–1.5 mm long, exserted. Capsule ovoid to subglobose, mostly 2.5–3.5 mm long, style-base persistent; seeds 4, elliptic or irregular, 1.3–1.8 mm long, grey-brown. Flowers Dec.–Mar.
CVU, EGU, HSF, HNF, MonT, VAlp. Also NSW, ACT, Tas. In Victoria confined to eastern ranges in montane to alpine grassland and snowgum woodland.
Plants with features somewhat intermediate between P. antarctica and P. varia, and possibly representing hybrids, have been collected near the Cobberas and on the nearby Nunniong Plateau, and also from the Brindabella Range in the Australian Capital Territory.
Jeanes, J.A. (1999). Plantaginaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 463–474. Inkata Press, Melbourne.