Flower ID: IMG_4108.JPG-08-21-2022 Flower name (scientific): Lactuca serriola Linnaeus PY: 1756. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) lak-TOO-kuh (or lak-TOO-ka) ser-ee-OH-luh (or ser-ee-OH-la) Flower name (common): Prickly 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 for in ranks, refers to the directional alignment of the leaves. Another suggestion is that it refers to 'of salad', since the young leaves can be used to prepare salads. Common name origin: The spines on the leaves account for the prickly component of the name. 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: 0.3 to 0.6 inches (8 to 15 mm) Petal count: 12 to 24 ray florets. No disc florets present. Color: yellow Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: 24 to 72 inches (61 to 183 cm) Stem hairy: glabrous distally, hispid proximally. Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple and lobed, sessile or winged petiolate, margins sharply toothed. Size: Basal and lower cauline leaves up to 30 cm long and up to 10 cm wide. Color: blue-green. Hairy: glabrous. There are stiff prickles along the midrib of the abaxial surface. Other: Shape: leaf, oblong, sometimes obovate to lanceolate (FNA), basal and lower stem leaves narrowly oblong to ovate in outline, usually deeply pinnately lobed; middle and upper stem leaves mostly linear to lanceolate, unlobed (MB) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual/Biennial Habitat: Disturbed sites, roadsides, fields, forest openings, semi shade to sun. Fruit: Achenes are about 3 to 4 mm in length, tan to grayish brown in color. Seed: have a tuft of white hairs, which aids in seed dispersal in the wind. Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): The prickles along the leaf midrib and the leaf shape can hekp differentiate Lactuca serriola from other Lactuca species. The appearance of the flowers and leaves will distingush this species from Sonchus (Sowthistle) species. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes in Wisconsin. The Navajo used the plant to prepare a ceremonial emertic (Moerman, p. 294, 1998). Latitude: 44.794577 Longitude: -91.495492 Altitude: 285.50 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Calumet, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 2 homotypic synonyms for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 38 heterotypic synonyms for this species. Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU