Psyllium (Plantago affra)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Exposure
- Full sun
Cultivation
Succeeds in any moderately fertile soil in a sunny position. This species is closely related to P. arenaria.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer A sowing can be made outdoors in situ in mid to late spring if you have enough seeds.
Edible uses
Young leaves - raw or cooked.
Medicinal uses
Plantain seeds contain up to 30% mucilage which swells up in the gut, acting as a bulk laxative and soothing irritated membranes.
Habitat
Dry places in S. Europe.
Native range
S. Europe - Mediterranean.