The mystery plant is a common weed prevalent throughout North America and Europe. (Maybe other continents too?)
When you can identify it, please provide both the common and scientific names in a comment below. Also, there are two very common species of this plant. For “bonus points,” provide both of the scientific names. If you have any personal stories to share about this plant, feel free to include that in a comment.
Flowers — up close
Flowers
Flower and seed head
Plant
ANSWER (subsequently added to this post to facilitate the “search” function for these images): English plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
Also, read the blog post and watch the plant portrait video for English plantain (Plantago lanceolata).
Plantain. I don’t know what kind. Not broadleaf. Lance leaf? As kids, we would pull up the flower stalk, wrap it around itself and pull near the flower head end, thereby shooting the flower head as very non-lethal weapon.
Anita, you are correct that this is plantain. This specimen is English (or lance leaf) plantain (Plantago lanceolata) with the narrower leaves. I appreciate plantain as a healing poultice each time I get stung or chewed on by a bug.
How do you prepare the plantain poultice?
Bobby, I simply pick a leaf of the plantain, chew on it briefly to break it up and get its juices released, and slap it on the skin wherever it’s needed. For me, it provides very quick pain relief.