What drives the home gardener mad is good news for the outback-bound as common plantain is common indeed. Young leaves can be eaten as is, like lettuce, while the more mature ones benefit from steaming or boiling like kale or spinach. Chop and season before eating. Common plantain is a good trail-side source of vitamins C, A and K. Much like aloe, a poultice of crushed plantain leaves is said to be a beneficial treatment for burns and insect stings.

Illustration by Manami Kimura