Plantago ovata

plant

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July 1, 2026

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Plantago ovata, commonly known as psyllium, is a plant species within the genus Plantago. These plants are characterized by a dense cluster of basal leaves and leafless stalks topped with a spike of small flowers.1

The seeds of Plantago ovata are particularly notable for their mucilaginous quality, meaning they become gelatinous when moist. This property makes them useful in medical applications, especially in laxative preparations. These seeds are also referred to as psyllium, ispaghul, or spogel seeds. The term "psyllium" itself originates from the Greek word for fleawort.12

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Plantago
By contrast, psyllium and P. ovata have been useful in medical science; they produce mucilaginous seeds, which have been used, for example, in laxative preparations known as psyllium, ispaghul, or spogel seeds.
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By contrast, psyllium and P. ovata have been useful in medical science; they produce mucilaginous seeds, which have been used, for example, in laxative preparations known as psyllium, ispaghul, or spogel seeds.
Read More