Lactuca biennis (Moench) Fernald. Common name: Tall Blue Lettuce, Blue Wood Lettuce. Phenology: Aug-Nov. Habitat: Pastures, roadsides, forest edges, thickets. Distribution: NL (Labrador) and AK south to NC, TN, IA, CO, UT, and CA.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, FNA19, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Oh3, Pa, POWO, RAB, SE1, Tn, Va, W, WV; = Lactuca spicata Jacq. — Tat; > Lactuca biennis (Moench) Fernald — F; > Lactuca terrae-novae Fernald — F; > Mulgedium spicatum (Lam.) Small var. integrifolium (Torr. & A.Gray) Small — S; > Mulgedium spicatum (Lam.) Small var. spicatum — S. Basionym: Sonchus biennis Moench 1794
Links to other floras: = Lactuca biennis - FNA19
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Midwest: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect annual/biennial of pastures, roadsides, forest edges and thickets.
Stems: Stems unbranched, green or purple-tinged, smooth to sparsely hairy, oozing milky sap when broken.
Leaves: Leaves alternate; winged-petiolate; lance- to arrowhead-shaped in outline; 4-12 in. long; deeply divided into several wide, coarsely toothed lobes with pointed tips; becoming smaller, sessile and less divided upward; smooth or with hairs on veins beneath.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in large, branching terminal cluster that spreads over time; heads nearly 1/2 in. wide and consisting of 15-30 pale blue to whitish ray florets with squared-off, toothed tips. Tightly held, hairless, green (often purple-tipped) bracts surround the cylindrical base of each head.
Fruits: Fruit a fluffy cluster of tufted achenes.
Comments:
Height: 3-15 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect annual/biennial of pastures, roadsides, forest edges and thickets.
stems: Stems unbranched, green or purple-tinged, smooth to sparsely hairy, oozing milky sap when broken.
leaves: Leaves alternate; winged-petiolate; lance- to arrowhead-shaped in outline; 4-12 in. long; deeply divided into several wide, coarsely toothed lobes with pointed tips; becoming smaller, sessile and less divided upward; smooth or with hairs on veins beneath.
inflorescence:
flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in large, branching terminal cluster that spreads over time; heads nearly 1/2 in. wide and consisting of 15-30 pale blue to whitish ray florets with squared-off, toothed tips. Tightly held, hairless, green (often purple-tipped) bracts surround the cylindrical base of each head.
fruits: Fruit a fluffy cluster of tufted achenes.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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