Plants annual or perennial herbs or shrubs. Leaves without stipules, opposite, alternate, or opposite below and alternate above, sometimes in a basal whorl, lower leaves sometimes distinctly different in appearance from upper leaves. Inflorescences of solitary flowers in the axils of the upper leaves, or axillary or terminal cymose or racemose leaf clusters. Flowers usually showy, usually bisexual; calyces deeply divided into (4-)5 lobes, lobes equal or unequal; corollas of united petals, usually from slightly to strongly bilaterally symmetric or even 2-lipped, sometimes Plantago) radially symmetric; stamens usually 4, usually more or less equal, sometimes 2 long and 2 short, sometimes only 2, a staminode sometimes present; anthers usually with 2 thecae, often coherent by their margins and forming a ring-like structure, usually longitudinally dehiscent; ovaries superior, (1-)2(4)-celled, with (1-)many ovules; styles 1, usually filiform; stigmas capitate, 2-lobed, or club-shaped. Fruits usually capsules, usually longitudinally dehiscent, sometimes circumscissile or poricidal, sometimes of 2 unequal cells or only 1 cell, occasionally a thin-walled nut; seeds (1-)many.

Interpretation of the family Plantaginaceae has changed substantially since publication of the Flora of Somalia. It now includes about 90 genera and 1900 species.  Some previously recognized small families are now included in it (e.g., Globulariaceae and the old Plantaginaceae) most of its new genera come from what used to be in the Scrophulariaceae. Souza (2012) listed characters (see below) that were always present in the Plantaginacae and others that were comment, but added all the characters are also present in other members of the Lamiales, the order to which the Plantaginaceae belongs. 

Characters found in all members of the Plantaginaceae:

• Simple leaves
• Stipules absent
• Corollas, if present, with fused petals

Characters found in most members of the Plantaginaceae:

• Herbs or shrubs
• Leaves usually opposite
• Corollas usually bilaterally symmetric
• Ovules/seeds usually numerours
• Ovaries usually superior
• Carpels usually 2

Key to the genera of the Plantaginaceae in Somaliland and Somalia. 

References

Fischer, E. (2006) Bacopa in M. Thulin (ed.) Flora of Somalia 3: 276. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Richmond Surrey, UK.

Hjertson, M. (2006) Campylanthus in M. Thulin (ed.) Flora of Somalia 3: 277-280. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Richmond Surrey, UK.

Medhanie, G. (2006) Kickxia in M. Thulin (ed.) Flora of Somalia 3: 273. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Richmond Surrey, UK.

Medhanie, G. (2006) Nanorrhinum in M. Thulin (ed.) Flora of Somalia 3: 273-276. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Richmond Surrey, UK.

Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics.

Souza, V.C. (2012) Neotropical Plantaginaceae. Accessed 17 December 2021.

Thulin, M. (2006) Chaenorhinum in M. Thulin (ed.) Flora of Somalia 3: 270. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Richmond Surrey, UK.

Thulin, M. (2006) Misopates in M. Thulin (ed.) Flora of Somalia 3: 272. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Richmond Surrey, UK.

Thulin, M. (2006) Schweinfurthia in M. Thulin (ed.) Flora of Somalia 3: 271-272. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Richmond Surrey, UK.

Thulin, M. (2006) Veronica in M. Thulin (ed.) Flora of Somalia 3: 276-277. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Richmond Surrey, UK.