Lactuca serriola L.

Prickly Lettuce

Herb

Biennial

Vascular

Prickly Lettuce is an introduced member of the Aster family (Asteraceae). It is native to Europe. In Alabama, Prickly Lettuce can be found state wide. It occurs in highly disturbed sites such as vacant lots, along railroads, in disused parking lots, and in cracks in the side walk. It is an annual from a tap root. Stems grow from 3-7 feet in height. The stem is unbranched below the inflorescence. Stems are round, glabrous, and often glaucous. Leaves are alternate, lobed or un-lobed, oblong to lanceolate in outline, with prickly margins. There are often prickles along the midrib on the lower side of the leaf. The basal lobes of the leaf clasp the stem. Leaves are rotated 45-90 degrees. Both stems and leaves contain a white milky latex sap. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are arranged in paniculate arrays. Each head has 10-20 ray flowers and no disc flowers. The rays are lemon yellow in color. The fruit is a beaked achene. The body of the achene is flat and light tan in color. The pappus is white. Prickly Lettuce is a common site in many downtown areas.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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