1724 Plantago lanceolata L.

This polymorphic species is now widely distributed. Its geographic origin is uncertain, but it may probably be looked for in C., E. and S. Europe. From there the species has spread as a weed to large parts of the world (see the map). The spreading to Fennoscandia, for instance, was very early, viz. through farming during Neolithic times. However, special ecotypes, e. g. var. dubia Wahlenb., probably existed earlier and still exist on sea shores, lime-stone ground and similar open localities. The species is probably still spreading, for instance through Asia. The present distribution is circumpolar (Hultén, Circumpol. Il, p. 238 and map 229), although there is a wide gap from C. Siberia to Alaska. Cf. also Meusel et al. 1978, map p. 420.