Before the appearance of flat cars, the scientific name was Plantago depressa Willd. , commonly known as plantain. Annual or biennial herbs. Straight roots are long, with many lateral roots and some fleshy. The rhizome is short. Basal leaves rosette-shaped, recumbent, oblique or erect; Leaf blade papery, elliptic, elliptic-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, petiole base expands into sheath.