A weed of cultivation, which appears strongly in the pollen record as a result of the clearing of previously wooded land. There are several varieties and their presence is taken by archaeologists to imply cereal cultivation. The greater plantain (Plantago major) provides seed spikes for bird food. Ribwort and hoary plantain (P. lanceolata and P. media, respectively) are troublesome weeds. Psyllium and P. ovata have been useful in medical science.