Lactuca graminifolia Michaux var. graminifolia. Common name: Coastal Plain Lettuce. Phenology: Apr-Jul. Habitat: Mesic to dry-mesic pine-oak woodlands and forests, longleaf pine sandhills, sandy fields, and sandy roadsides. Distribution: E. NC south to s. FL, west to c. LA; disjunct in s. NJ.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Taxonomy Comments: Var. arizonica McVaugh is distributed in mesic canyons in montane w. TX, s. CO, NM, and AZ, south into w. Mexico. Var. mexicana McVaugh is distributed in Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Guatemala.
Synonymy ⓘ: = K4, Va; = Lactuca graminifolia Michx. — S; = n/a — C; < Lactuca graminifolia Michx. — Bah, F, Fl7, FNA19, RAB, SE1, Tn, W, WH3; Lactuca graminifolia Michx. Basionym: Lactuca graminifolia Michx. 1803
Links to other floras: < Lactuca graminifolia - FNA19
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: UPL (name change)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: UPL (name change)
- Great Plains: FAC (name change)
- Midwest: UPL (name change)
- Northcentral & Northeast: UPL (name change)
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect-ascending biennial of moist to somewhat dry pine-oak woodlands and forests, longleaf pine sandhills, sandy fields and sandy roadsides.
Stems: Stems unbranched (except in inflorescence), reddish to green, smooth and leaking milky sap when broken.
Leaves: Leaves mostly basal and alternate on the stem, with clasping bases, linear to oblong-lance-shaped, 4-12 in. long (reduced upward), entire to irregularly lobed or toothed (upper ones entire), mostly smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Compound flowers (heads) in wide-branching cluster occupying nearly upper half of stem; heads nearly 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 15-24 blue to violet ray florets with squared-off, toothed tips; the cylindric base of each head composed of tightly held, lance-shaped, purple-tinged green bracts.
Fruits: Fruit a fluffy cluster of flattened, white-tufted achenes.
Comments:
Height: 1 1/2-3 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect-ascending biennial of moist to somewhat dry pine-oak woodlands and forests, longleaf pine sandhills, sandy fields and sandy roadsides.
stems: Stems unbranched (except in inflorescence), reddish to green, smooth and leaking milky sap when broken.
leaves: Leaves mostly basal and alternate on the stem, with clasping bases, linear to oblong-lance-shaped, 4-12 in. long (reduced upward), entire to irregularly lobed or toothed (upper ones entire), mostly smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Compound flowers (heads) in wide-branching cluster occupying nearly upper half of stem; heads nearly 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 15-24 blue to violet ray florets with squared-off, toothed tips; the cylindric base of each head composed of tightly held, lance-shaped, purple-tinged green bracts.
fruits: Fruit a fluffy cluster of flattened, white-tufted achenes.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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