Scientific Name :Plantago palmata Vernacular Name :Imbatabata Family name :Imbatabata Geographic Distribution :Disturbed place in montane forest, often at the edges, Or on paths,1800- 3200 m.
Botanical Description Perennial Herb with stout rhizome and basilar rosette leavesglabrous, to hairy. Leaves alternate, petiole 4-29 cm long , lamina ovate or rounded, palmtilobed, acute to roundet at apex, cordate at base, up to 5-12 cm long and 3-13cm wide, entirely green, or with blackish spots on upper surface. Inflorescence a 1-17 cm long spike with 5-30 cm long peduncle. Flowerswith greenish-white corolla up to 0.3 cm long, stamens long exserted, fruit a globose to ellipsoidal capsule up to 0.3-0.4 cm long and 0.15-0.3 cm wide.
Medicinal Use Antidiarrheal propertiess
Other Use The leaves are macerate in banana beer amd drunk for the treatment of hepatic diseases. In Rwanda, Plantago palmata is an important medicinal plant, the entire plant is used against dysentery; the leaves to treat poisoning, the seeds to treat hepatitis, leaves and stems to prevent preterm birth, The roots against worm infection. Nyakarundi Samuel, a herbal tradipractician in Kigali said leaves and flowers of Plantago palmata are used for wound cicatrisation and in the treatment of cough.
