Plantago spathulata Hook.F.

Primary root usually short-lived, sometimes taproot persisting; adventitious roots usually numerous, sometimes 0. Stem simple, ± subterranean, to 2 cm diam., stout, erect, with brown hairs at apex. Lvs radical, in usually flat rosettes; petiole broad, flat. Lamina 1-7-(11) × 0.3-2.7-(4) cm, elliptic to spathulate or oblanceolate, submembranous or subcoriaceous; main veins 3; margin almost entire or distantly toothed, sometimes with small rounded pinnate lobes; lf hairs short and stiff, few to many, sometimes confined to margins or in transverse lines or patches on upper surface, usually 0 on undersurface or confined to midrib, occasionally over whole undersurface; base attenuate; apex obtuse or subacute. Scape 3-12-(22) cm long, covered with short appressed hairs. Spike to 3 cm long, usually dense, (2)-many-flowered and much longer than wide. Bracts 2.5-3.5-(4) mm long, ovate; keel dark, wide, ill-defined and mostly ± hoary with short white hairs; margins membranous and sometimes hoary. Sepals c. 3 mm long, ovate, pale and membranous except for the dark, well-developed, white-hairy keel; margins glabrous or sometimes ciliate, especially at apex. Corolla tube short; lobes 1.5-2 × c. 1.3 mm, broad-ovate. Capsule c. 3-(4) mm long, broad-ellipsoid to almost rhomboid. Seeds (2)-4, 1-2-(3) mm long, ± uniform, narrow.