Narrow-leaf Plantain

On 11 May 2021, these Narrow-leaf Plantain caught my eye as Erika and I strolled along the dike at the Billy Frank Jr National Wildlife Refuge. I thought they were lovely, even if they are introduced to North America (and many other parts of the world). We have seen plantain often and knew their name. The plant is native to Eurasia. Finding this plant in the refuge is not surprising. Plantain prefers open fields where livestock disturb the turf. The Nisqually refuge was originally a diary farm. These plants can grown in a variety of habitats, however, including dry meadows, lawns, rainforests, and roadsides. Plantain is often used in herbal teas. These beverages are used as a cough medicine, a cure for respiratory upsets, and various infections and insect bites (Wikipedia)