Flower ID: IMG_3308.JPG-08-04-2024 Flower name (scientific): Lactuca biennis (Moench) Fernald PY: 1940. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) lak-TOO-kuh (or lak-TOO-ka) by-EN-iss Flower name (common): Tall Blue Lettuce Family name (common): Aster Family name (scientific): Asteraceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Latin lac meaning milk, referring to the milky sap. Specific epithet: Latin meaning of two years; biennial. Common name origin: Tall refers to the plant height, which is typically up to around 200 cm, but can reach up to 300 cm (just under 10 feet). The flowers can be pale blue in color. Lettuce comes from the fact that this plant is in the same genus as the common vegetable lettuce, which is Lactuca sativa. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.4 inches (5 to 10 mm) Petal count: typically 20 to 30 ray florets; can be as low as 15 and up to 50+. Color: white or pale blue Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: 30 to 80 inches (76 to 203 cm) Stem hairy: glabrous to sparsely to moderately hairy. Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple and lobed, winged petiolate, margins entire or denticulate. Size: About 10 to 40 cm in length and 4 to 20 cm wide. Color: medium green Hairy: The adaxial surface glabrous to sparsely hairy, the abaxial surface sparsely hairy along veins. Other: Shape: leaf, ovate to lanceolate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual/Biennial Habitat: Woods, meadows, swamps, along stream banks, moist to wet soil, shade to semi shade. Fruit: Cypselae 4 to 6 mm in length, brown colored, typically mottled. Seed: Seeds have a tuft of brown to gray hairs, which aids seed dispersal in the wind. Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Lactuca floridana (Woodland Lettuce) has some similarity to Lactuca biennis. The bracts of Lactuca biennis typically have a purple-colored tip and the flowers have about 15 to 30 ray florets, whereas the bracts of Lactuca floridana have a more extentsive purple coloration and the flowers typically have about 10 to 15 ray florets, though the count can be higher. When seeds are available, Lactuca floridana has a tuft of white hairs on the seed, whereas Lactuca biennis has a tuft of brown colored hairs on the seed. Ethnobotany: Latitude: 44.794498 Longitude: -91.494865 Altitude: 284.30 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AK, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Sonchus biennis Moench Methodus, 545. 1794. Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 1 homotypic synonym for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 17 heterotypic synonyms for this species. Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FAC Wetland Status (MW): FAC