Buckhorn leaves are long, narrow, hairy , and 2 to 10 in. Broadleaf and blackseed plantain leaves are broad, simple, and egg-shaped . Blackseed plantain has a purplish petiole. The flowers of all species are borne on a leafless stem . Buckhorn plantain flowers are in a tight spike at the end of the stem, while broadleaf and blackseed plantain flowers are borne on an elongated spike on the stem.
Plantains are common weeds in turf.
Annual bluegrass is a winter annual or perennial that can persist in closely mowed turfs for many seasons. It is apple green in color and produces hundreds of whitish-green seedheads at all mowing heights. Seedhead production persists even at the extremely close mowing heights of a putting green. The ligule of annual bluegrass is acute , which readily distinguishes it from the truncate ligule of Kentucky bluegrass. It grows well on compacted soils under moist and shaded conditions and frequently occurs in dense patches .