Great Indian Plantain, Arnoglossum reniforme (Hook.) H. Rob., Cacalia muhlenbergii, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

We are reporting here on two plants as both are similar in appearance. Both have erect tubular whitish flowers of indistinguishable parts, that appear in somewhat flat topped umbels atop sturdy stems that can be 3 to 9 feet high. Stems of Great Indian Plantain (A. reniforme) have 6 to 8 angles and are grooved as the example in these photos shows. Stems of Pale Indian Plantain are usually without angles, smooth and sometimes with a whitish bloom. Larger upper leaves of both plants have veins palmately arranged. On Great Indian Plantain the upper leaves are fan shaped with pointed teeth and green on both sides. Pale Indian Plantain has rounded triangular shaped upper leaves that are pale beneath. See notes below for distribution of these plants. Botanists have reclassified these plants in recent years. Both species were formerly in the genus "Cacalia". Great Indian Plantain was formerly Cacalia muhlenbergii and Pale Indian Plantain was formerly Cacalia atriplicifolia. The plant census of the Garden simply lists the plant as Cacalia sp.

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Great Indian Plantain & Pale Indian Plantain	Arnoglossum reniforme (Hook.) H. Rob. & Arnoglossum atriplicifolium (L.) H. Rob.	Aster (Asteraceae)	Upland	Early Summer
Other names and notes	We are reporting here on two plants as both are similar in appearance. Both have erect tubular whitish flowers of indistinguishable parts, that appear in somewhat flat topped umbels atop sturdy stems that can be 3 to 9 feet high. Stems of Great Indian Plantain (A. reniforme) have 6 to 8 angles and are grooved as the example in these photos shows. Stems of Pale Indian Plantain are usually without angles, smooth and sometimes with a whitish bloom. Larger upper leaves of both plants have veins palmately arranged. On Great Indian Plantain the upper leaves are fan shaped with pointed teeth and green on both sides. Pale Indian Plantain has rounded triangular shaped upper leaves that are pale beneath. See notes below for distribution of these plants. Botanists have reclassified these plants in recent years. Both species were formerly in the genus "Cacalia". Great Indian Plantain was formerly Cacalia muhlenbergii and Pale Indian Plantain was formerly Cacalia atriplicifolia. The plant census of the Garden simply lists the plant as Cacalia sp.