| Author | Decaisne | |
| Distribution | Statewide, though lacking collections from several contiguous counties in the southern Coastal Plain.
This is a widespread and numerous species in the East, from eastern Canada south to northern FL and eastern TX. | |
| Abundance | Common statewide, except uncommon (apparently) in the far southern Coastal Plain. | |
| Habitat | As with most other members of the genus, it is found in disturbed ground in sunny places, despite it being a native species. It grows in lawns, on roadsides, in waste lots, logging roads, trails, and in other weedy places. | |
| Phenology | Blooms and fruits from June to frost. | |
| Identification | This is the familiar broad-leaved member of the genus, as the several basal leaves ascend or spread from the plant base on petioles 1-2 inches long. The blade is widely elliptical, strongly parallel-veined, about 4 inches long and 2 inches wide. The several scapes grow to about 8 inches tall, with the spike of tiny flowers covering the upper 50-60% of the stalk. The bracts are short and thus the spike is quite narrow, usually less than 1/4-inch wide. No other native Plantago is similar, though the non-native P. major, infrequent in the state, is similar; that species has ovoid to globose capsules, about 2-4 mm long, whereas P. rugelii has capsules longer and ellipsoid in shape, about 3-6 mm long. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | None
| |
| Other Common Name(s) | Broad-leaved Plantain, American Plantain, Rugel's Plantain | |
| State Rank | S5 | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | FACU link |
| USACE-emp | FACU link |
