Home · Herb knowledge · Plantain
One shop word, more than one plantPlantain is not a species.
Plantain is a shop word for a cooking banana, and sometimes for the unrelated Plantago lawn weed. Cooking banana is Musa × paradisiaca. Sweet banana is Musa acuminata. Plantago is already on this site as isabgol. This page will not pick a winner.
Choose the botanical page
- Cooking banana · Musa × paradisiaca
Musa × paradisiaca — cooking banana, the starchier hybrid bunch.
- Vazhai · Musa acuminata
Musa acuminata — sweet dessert banana. Some shops still say plantain for this too.
- Isabgol · Plantago ovata
Plantago ovata — isabgol, the husk plant, not a banana.
This word names more than one plant, so check the botanical name before you buy or use it. If the plant you meant is not listed, we have not written it yet. Educational only. Not medical advice and not a shop.