Japanese name: オオバコ（大葉子） Scientific name:Plantago asiatica
[Overview]
A perennial found along roadsides and on vacant land.
It has many fine roots.
About 10 leaves grow from the base, varying in size from 1–15 cm long and 1–8 cm wide; they are thin, ovate, with conspicuous longitudinal veins.
The leaf margins are entire or have indistinct wavy teeth.
The leaf base narrows abruptly into the petiole.
A spike at the tip of a flower stalk 10–50 cm tall bears small, densely set flowers, with 4 stamens projecting far out of the flower.
The flowers have very short stalks.
The fruit is an oblong capsule, and its upper half is a slightly pointed conical-ovate shape.
The fruit contains 4–6 oblong seeds.
[Uses]
The crude drug name is shazensou, and it is used medicinally.
