Lambs Tongue (Plantago lanceolata).

Lambs Tongue, is also known as Ribwort or Buckhorn Plantain. It is a common perennial weed of turf and lawns, and is found in all areas of Australia.

Buckhorn Plantain, is a weed that you should try and keep out of your turf. It has a large tap root, is hard to kill, and is relatively drought tolerant.

After you read this, you will be able to:

• Identify Lambs Tongue or Buckhorn Plantain.
• Know its habitat.
• Know the best way to manage this weed.

Ribwort (Plantago lanceolata) is an environmental weed in NSW, VIC and WA.

Why is Lambs Tongue a Weed?

• Plants quickly spread and form dense populations. These compete with turf grass for water and nutrients.
• It produces a large amount of seed. These seeds spread by wind and water. This allows it to establish quickly.   
• The seeds can contaminate equipment. The machinery then carries it to new areas.
• It thrives in a range of conditions, and can handle drought periods. 
• This weed has a very long dormancy period. Seeds can remain dormant in the soil for up to 177 years.

Buckthorn Plantain is an Indicator Weed of dry, low nutrient soils. However, it is also able to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions.

Our Weed ID Chart has more information on turf and grass weeds.

The distribution map is courtesy of The Living Atlas of Australia.

How to Identify Lambs Tongue.

Buckhorn Plantain is easy to identify. It has distinct slender parallel veins on hairy leaves that form 1 or more rosettes. When it is young it looks similar to Wireweed.

• It overwinters as a rosette.
• The leaves, root crown and short below ground stem act as storage organs.
• Slender, long flower stems grow from these rosettes.
• These flower stems have dense, brown, cylindrical seed heads.
• White anthers often stick out of the flowers.
• Because of its height, the seed quickly spreads via the wind.
• This weed germinates in the cool months in the late Autumn and the early Winter.

Photosynthetic Pathway. Lambs Tongue is a C3 weed. It is tolerant of frost.

Leaf length: Its leaves are long and narrow. They are between 3 and 30 cm long.

Leaf Width: The leaves are 8 to 30 mm wide.

Comments: You often find that this weed is prostrate in turf. It is much more open and tends to spread when there is no competition.

Habitat: You often find Buckhorn or Ribwort Plantain in poor lawns, turf, gardens, and along roadsides.

A combination of cultural and chemical control will manage Ribwort, or Buckhorn Plantain. However, if you rely entirely on cultural control it will not give 100% control of this weed in turf grass.

Autumn is the best time to control of this perennial weed.

• It is not a great competitor. This means that if you maintain a thick, healthy turf cover it is a major step to manage this weed.
• Use the right turf fertiliser. This helps to create a dense turf canopy that will discourage it.
• Mow at the right height for your turf type. This will favour the turf grass over the weed.
• You can hand pull plants if the weed isn’t widespread.
• It is easy to remove it by hand. Early removal of the seedlings works if you keep at it.
• Make sure that you pull out the whole plant. This includes its deep tap root. If you don’t, it quickly grows back after you pull it up.

Chemical Control of Lambs Tongue.

Your choice of turf herbicide depends on:

• The turf type that is present.
• Cost.
• How easy it is to apply..

It is very important to use products at the right time and rate. Spot spraying also works if it’s practical. However, if this weed is widespread blanket treatment works better.

The best time to control this weed is once it germinate, and when it is actively growing.

Pre-emergents for Lambs Tongue.

Pre-emergents that prevent this weed in turf include:

• Indaziflam.
• Isoxaben.
• Mesotrione.

These are not necessarily registered for this weed in Australia. So always make sure that you read the label before you use them.

Overseas Research.

• Work shows that Specticle herbicide gives excellent pre-emergent control of this weed.
• However, it does not control older plants that are already present.
• Weeds such as Buckhorn Plantain have a live root system. They will continue to grow after you use a pre-emergent.

Post Emergents for Lambs Tongue.

There are three important things to consider with the post-emergent control of Ribwort Plantain.

• The best time to spray this weed is when it’s young, and not well established.
• Combinations of 2 or 3 actives give better control than if you use one active.
• You get the best control when you use these in the Autumn.
• You will need several treatments to kill this perennial weed and any new seedlings.
• Once this weed matures it is more difficult to control.
• Products that contain 2,4-D tend to work the best.

Other options include:

• Bromoxynil.
• Carfentrazone.
• Dicamba.
• Mesotrione. Not currently registered in Australia for this weed.
• Penoxsulam. Not currently registered in Australia for this weed.
• Quinclorac gives some control of Buckthorn Plantain. However, it doesn’t work well on Broadleaf Plantain.
• MCPA will suppress, and not kill, Ribwort Plantain.

Suitable post emergents include:

• Casper Herbicide. Do not use this on Buffalo grass.
• Stature Herbicide. Not for home garden use.
• Quali-Pro Negate. Do not use this on Buffalo grass.
• ProForce Weed Blast MA. You can use this on Buffalo grass.
• Warhead Trio. You can use this on Buffalo grass.
• ProForce Contra M. Do not use this on Buffalo grass.

Non Selectives for Lambs Tongue.

You cannot use any of these on lawns or turf areas to selectively control this weed.

In Conclusion