Abstract
The paper presents results of research on seed sculpture of <em>Plantago major</em>, <em>P. intermedia</em>, <em>P. media</em>, <em>P. coronopus </em>subsp. <em>coronopus</em>, <em>P. maritima </em>subsp. <em>maritima</em>, <em>P. atrata </em>subsp. <em>carpatica</em>, <em>P. lanceolata</em> and <em>P. arenaria</em>. Special attention was paid to the sculpture of the external layer of the testa. Observations were made under a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope. The sculpture typical for each species was presented in micrographs. The results indicate that seed sculpture is a very good interspecific identification feature. The study also confirmed that <em>P. maritima </em>should not be assigned to the section <em>Coronopus </em>DC., but to a separate section <em>Maritima </em>Rahn.
Highlights
The genus Plantago of the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) includes over 200 species (Clapham et al 1962), which are found on all continents
Most of the Plantago species are ubiquitous and only three taxa are endangered in Poland: the mountain species P. atrata subsp. carpatica and two seaside taxa, P. coronopus subsp. coronopus and P. maritima subsp. maritima (Piêko-Mirkowa 2001; Piotrowska 2001a, b; Zaj1c, Zaj1c 2001)
The shape of seeds of Plantago species varies considerably: elliptic, peltate, angular, ovoid, convex on the dorsal side, flat or boat-like concave on the ventral side, with the hilum at the centre
Summary
The genus Plantago of the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) includes over 200 species (Clapham et al 1962), which are found on all continents. They are herbs, or rarely subshrubs, with inconspicuous flowers collected usually in multiflorous spikes or - less often - in inflorescences composed of one or several flowers each. In Poland the most common Plantago species are perennial weeds. Most of the Plantago species are ubiquitous and only three taxa are endangered in Poland: the mountain species P. atrata subsp. Carpatica and two seaside taxa, P. coronopus subsp. Maritima (Piêko-Mirkowa 2001; Piotrowska 2001a, b; Zaj1c, Zaj1c 2001) Most of the Plantago species are ubiquitous and only three taxa are endangered in Poland: the mountain species P. atrata subsp. carpatica and two seaside taxa, P. coronopus subsp. coronopus and P. maritima subsp. maritima (Piêko-Mirkowa 2001; Piotrowska 2001a, b; Zaj1c, Zaj1c 2001)
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