Plantago elongata is a species of plantain known by the common names prairie plantain and slender plantain. It is native to much of western North America, from British Columbia to California and as far east as Minnesota. It grows in wet habitat, such as vernal pools and wet meadows, including areas with saline and alkali soils, such as beaches. Plantago elongata is a petite annual herb producing a few narrow linear or threadlike basal leaves up to 10 centimeters long. The stemlike inflorescences grow erect to a maximum height around 18 centimeters. Atop the peduncle of the inflorescence is a spike of several tiny flowers each with a rounded or oval calyx of sepals covered with thick, fleshy green bracts.