Perennial from a basal rosette with broad oval leaves. Found throughout the United States, primarily a weed of turfgrass. Young leaves oval to elliptic with leaves that encircle the stem. Usually lacking hairs, oval to elliptic and tapered at the tip, with a somewhat waxy surface and veins that are parallel to the margins.
Margins are usually wavy and toothed.
Petiole bases are conspicuously red or purple tinged. Taproot with fibrous roots. Flowering stems are 5-15 inches long, clustered with small flowers that have whitish petals and bracts surrounding the flowers. Additionally, the leaves of blackseed plantain are hairless, and have toothed and wavy margins, unlike the leaves of broadleaf plantain.