Taprooted perennial. Leaves rosetted, narrow-elliptic, mostly 6–20 cm long and 0.5–2 cm wide, acute or obtuse, pubescent, 3–5-veined, margins usually with conspicuous triangular and often retrorse teeth; petiole indistinct. Spike cylindric, mostly 3–11 cm long, congested, sometimes more open at base; peduncles 5–25 cm long, pubescent; bracts ovate, 2.8–3.5 mm long, acute, keel pilose, margins ciliate. Sepals elliptic, usually 2.8–3.5 mm long, subequal; corolla-tube 2–2.5 mm long, lobes 1.5–2.3 mm long, spreading or reflexed; anthers 1.5–2.5 mm long, exserted. Capsule ovoid to subglobose, mostly 3–3.5 mm long, style-base persistent; seeds 1–5, compressed-ellipsoid, 1.5–2.5 mm long, brown. Flowers mostly Aug.–Apr.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, HFE, VAlp. Also SA, Qld, NSW, ACT, Tas. Widespread and often locally common through a wide range of habitats, but generally replaced by Plantago debilis in moist, shaded sites.
