The plantain family is not what you think: it includes snapdragons and foxgloves

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Do not let the name fool you. Despite the label, this diverse group of flowering plants has nothing to do with the banana-like fruit. Instead, it encompasses a vast array of species ranging from common garden snapdragons to aquatic plants, all unified by complex genetic research rather than simple appearance.

The Plantaginaceae family, often referred to as the veronica family, represents a significant and varied group within the order Lamiales. While traditional classification once limited this family to just three genera—Bougueria, Littorella, and Plantago—modern phylogenetic studies have drastically expanded its scope. Today, the family is recognized as a broad, cosmopolitan group containing approximately 1,900 species spread across 107 distinct genera. Much of this expansion resulted from reclassifying plants previously placed within the Scrophulariaceae family.

Defining the boundaries of this family is notoriously difficult due to its immense diversity. Members range from shrubs and herbs to specialized aquatic plants like the genus Callitriche. Their physical traits are equally varied; while many species exhibit two-lipped corollas and polysymmetric flowers, the number of floral parts can fluctuate significantly between genera. For instance, while some plants are 4-merous, others may be 5- to 8-merous. A notable microscopic feature is the structure of their glandular hairs, which lack the vertical partitions typically found in other members of the Lamiales order.

Nomenclature for the group has been a subject of intense debate among botanists. Although Veronicaceae was the earliest name proposed in 1782, the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature prioritizes Plantaginaceae, a name established in 1789, due to its status as a conserved term. Despite proposals to adopt names like Antirrhinaceae, the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group continues to support the use of Plantaginaceae. The largest genus within this expanded family is Veronica, which now incorporates groups previously considered separate, such as Hebe and Parahebe, totaling about 450 species.

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