*Lactuca serriola Linnaeus. Common name: Prickly Lettuce. Phenology: Jun-Nov. Habitat: Roadsides, disturbed ground, pastures. Distribution: Native of Eurasia.
Origin/Endemic status: Eurasia
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Fl7, FNA19, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, POWO, SE1, Tn, Va, WH3; = Lactuca scariola L. — F, RAB; = Lactuca scariola L. var. scariola — Tat; > Lactuca scariola L. — S; > Lactuca serriola L. var. integrata Gren. & Godr. — G, Oh3, Tat, W; > Lactuca serriola L. var. serriola — Oh3; > Lactuca virosa L. — S, misapplied. Basionym: Lactuca serriola L. 1756
Links to other floras: = Lactuca serriola - FNA19
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Great Plains: FAC
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
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© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect annual/biennial of roadsides, pastures and other disturbed places. Native of Europe.
Stems: Stems stout, green or reddish-tan and white-waxy, smooth or with bristles below.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile, oblong to spoon-shaped with lobed bases, 2-6 in. long, pinnately lobed with spiny-toothed margins, spiny on midrib beneath; often twisted at the base and thus oriented vertically.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in large, widely branched, pyramidal cluster at top of stem; heads about 1/3 in. wide, consisting of 5-27 yellow ray florets with squared-off, toothed tips.
Fruits: Fruit a fluffy cluster of flattened, tufted achenes.
Comments:
Height: 1-6 1/2 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect annual/biennial of roadsides, pastures and other disturbed places. Native of Europe.
stems: Stems stout, green or reddish-tan and white-waxy, smooth or with bristles below.
leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile, oblong to spoon-shaped with lobed bases, 2-6 in. long, pinnately lobed with spiny-toothed margins, spiny on midrib beneath; often twisted at the base and thus oriented vertically.
inflorescence:
flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in large, widely branched, pyramidal cluster at top of stem; heads about 1/3 in. wide, consisting of 5-27 yellow ray florets with squared-off, toothed tips.
fruits: Fruit a fluffy cluster of flattened, tufted achenes.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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