plantan

Plantan is a term used in multiple contexts to refer to different plants, depending on language and region. It is not a scientifically defined taxon on its own, but rather a common name that can cause confusion between distinct groups of plants.

In many contexts, plantan refers to plantains, the cooking bananas of Musa cultivars such as Musa paradisiaca and Musa acuminata. These plants are large, herbaceous perennials with pseudostems formed by leaf bases. The fruit grows in hanging clusters and is typically cooked before consumption, especially when green or unripe. Plantains are starchier and less sweet than dessert bananas and are a staple in tropical cuisines. They are cultivated in warm, frost-free climates and are usually propagated by suckers or offshoots.

In other contexts, plantan may refer to the common plantains, members of the genus Plantago, including Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata. These are small, hardy herbs known as plantains in Europe and North America. They have broad leaves arranged in a rosette and tall flowering spikes. Plantago species have a long history of medicinal use and, in some cultures, the young leaves are eaten as greens. They are widespread as weeds in disturbed soils worldwide.

Etymology for the fruit sense traces to Old French plantein or Spanish plátano, while the plantain weed sense derives from Latin Plantago. See also Musa for bananas and Plantago for the plantains weed.