Plantago coronopus             Buck's-horn Plantain

Distribution: Locally abundant near the coast, formerly very local inland but now increasing in frequency. Note the numerous records extending eastwards along the East Lancs Road to Swinton (SD70Q). This species also extends inland along the A565 from Southport to Tarleton (SD42K).

Habitat: Sand-dunes, salt-marshes, bare ground, lawns and grass verges on sandy soils near the coast; increasingly a feature of short salted roadside turf along trunk roads and probably motorways inland.

Comments: South Lancashire Axiophyte. The historic inland populations were a feature of open dry sandy soils such as at Kersal Moor (SD8102, Grindon 1859) a location at which horse racing formerly took place.