Plantago?

[Stephenb]

Anyone recognise this one? It looks like Plantago lanceolata or similar with almost black flower spikes. I saw it in a friend's garden. She had grown it for years but didn't know what it was. Sorry for the picture quality:

[Maggi Young]

I don't think I've ever seen such a thing with such dark flowers, Stephen. Smarter than your average plantago, for sure..... good head, nice foliage....

[Panu]

The inflorescense reminds me of Cyperaceae, could it be Carex? Just guessing...

[Stephenb]

Good guess! It doesn't seem to be Carex nigra (the obvious choice) though. 

[Maggi Young]

The leaves suggest Plantago lanceolata, very firmly though, don't they?
I'm puzzled.... again!

[TheOnionMan]

Stephen, just checked IPNI.ORG, and there are 1800+ names for Plantago, it's a huge genus.  There exists entries for P. nigritella (resembling the orchid?) and S. nigricans (Plantago lanceolata var. nigricans), maybe Maggi is on the right track.

[Stephenb]

Thanks, Mark - good move! Yes, I'm sure it's a Plantago, but can't find any pictures on a quick search for nigricans and nigritella.

[TheOnionMan]

Thanks, Mark - good move! Yes, I'm sure it's a Plantago, but can't find any pictures on a quick search for nigricans and nigritella.

Actually, I'm not sure.  It might be a Plantago, but the branched inflorescence makes it look like a Carex, so maybe it is a Carex as Panu suggests?  If you start going through Carex, IPNI.ORG only lists approximately 8600 names!

[Maggi Young]

Stephen, were you aware of the foliage being harsh and sedge-like? Because t it doesn't look that way to me and even Carex s wilth broader, lusher leaves, like Cc platyphyllus, siderosticha or plantaginea still have rather coarse, wiry foliage. The mystery plants leaves look to me like more "regular" leaves, with a soft, pliable, non- wiry substance to them, which is what is heading me away from Carex. Plantain leaves, in fact 

[Stephenb]

Unfortunately, it was some time ago now. I didn't bother looking more carefully as I felt sure it was a Plantago at the time 

[TheOnionMan]

Unfortunately, it was some time ago now. I didn't bother looking more carefully as I felt sure it was a Plantago at the time  

Maggi, I see what you say about the foliage, but the more I look at the inflorescence the more it speaks Carex to me, or some other Cyperaceae, or even a Juncaceae like Luzula nigricans (= Luzula sudetica), but these are just wild guesses.  Of course, it could be a Plantago