Rat-tail Plantain ( Plantago major )

Sorry I believe the correct English name is Broadleaved Plantain, but all my life I have known them as Rat-tail Plantains, so that is what they remain.

We set off to go down to Sheffield for the weekend.  We had our usual lunch stop at Mainsgill (Farm Shop) and then continued arriving late mid afternoon.  We haven't seen Rachel and the grand kids since May.  They have been having some large alterations to the house.  The work started at the end of June but for various reasons the work has dragged on.  It was scheduled to finish in 6 weeks,  The builder injuring himself didn't help.

The work is almost completed now, well completed enough for us to visit without too many problems.  The downstairs shower room has moved the kitchen has grown massively, well those are the main alteration, the door to the living room has moved from one end to the other.

Before it got dark I wandered round the garden.  I took conventional shots of roses etc then I spotted the plantain.  I can't remember ever having blipped one before so here it is.

The leaves are edible when young but as they age they become fibrous to the extent that they can be used is survival situations to make small cords fishing line etc.  The leaves were also used on wounds stings etc.