FNPS Plant Database

Arnoglossum ovatum

ovateleaf Indian plantain
  • Photo by: Kitty Loftin

Nomenclature

Common Name:

ovateleaf Indian plantain

Synonym(s):

Cacalia ovata

Genus species:

Arnoglossum ovatum

Family:

Asteraceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

Flower

Size:

6–9 ft tall

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Blooms August-October

Noted For:

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Moist meadows.

Considerations:

Availability:

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Unknown

Soil or Other Substrate:

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies

Native Habitats:

Wet flatwoods, savannas, acidic swamps

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Had medicinal and culinary uses by indigenous peoples of N. America.

General Comments:

The entire state excepting the keys falls within the range of this plant which extends from North Carolina to Texas. Herbarium specimens document occurrence, at least sporatically, throughout the peninsula but not in the Florida keys. Counties without documented specimens are ones with heavy urbanization, dominance by unsuitable habitats, intensive farming or silviculture, or generally a lack of public access for botanizing.
FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

BONAP Plant Atlas. (2021). ( http://bonap.net/Napa/TaxonMaps/Genus/County/Arnoglossum ). Accessed 2025. Biota of North America Program, Chapel Hill, NC.


Hammer, Roger. (2018). Complete Guide to Florida Wildflowers. Falcon Guides, Guilford, CT.


Nelson, Gil. (2005). East Gulf Coastal Plain Wildflowers. Falcon Guides, Guilford, CT.


Taylor, Walter Kingsley. 1992.   Florida Wildflowers:A Comprehensive Guide. Taylor Trade Publishing.


Wunderlin, R. P, B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

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