Plantago afra
ζ*P. afra L. ζ* has been collected wild in a Dunedin garden, where it presumably originated as an impurity in fl. or vegetable seed (CHR 172360, Dunedin, Cook, 30.1.1967). P. afra superficially resembles P. scabra, it can be easily distinguished by the hair and sepal characters given in the key. Fresh introductions of either sp. are likely to occur with imported crop seed, and P. afra is now deliberately cultivated for the medicinal properties of its seeds. This annual taxon is usually known as P. psyllium L., but this is incorrect [Verdcourt, B., Fl. Trop. East Africa. Plantaginaceae: 7 (1971)]. (Mediterranean region, S.W. Asia, N. and E. Africa, 1988).
