Lactuca ludoviciana
(Wild Lettuce)
Lactuca ludoviciana, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 3089
Lactuca ludoviciana, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 3099
Lactuca ludoviciana, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 3105
Lactuca ludoviciana, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 3118
Lactuca ludoviciana, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 3112
Lactuca ludoviciana, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 3108
Lactuca ludoviciana, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 3109
| Scientific Name | Lactuca ludoviciana | USDA PLANTS Symbol | LALU |
| Common Name | Wild Lettuce, Louisiana Lettuce | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 36602 |
| Family | Asteraceae (Sunflower) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Dryer, usually calareous soils in sunny, open areas; disturbed sites. Plant: Erect biennial, central, smooth stem 2 to 5 feet tall in second year; unbranched except at flower clusters. Leaves: Dark green, shiney blades variable in size and shape; basal rosette in first year, each blade up to 12 inches long and 8 inches wide, deeply lobed and coarsely toothed with sharp pointed teeth; smaller and less lobed, stalkless stem leaves in lower half to 3/4 portion of plant, becoming about 4 inches long, 1-1/2 inches wide, and unlobed but may have two lobes near leaf base. Inflorescence: Open, branching cluster of stalked flowers at the top arising from upper leaf axils; flowers are 3/4 to 1 inch across with 20 to 50 yellow to pinkish purple to bluish rays; no disk flowers; involucre tube 1/2 to 3/4-inch long, smooth with overlapping bracts, green to purplish. Bloom Period: May to June. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, Minnesota Wildflowers and SEINet. Note: There is some disagreement in the literature on the flower color which is usually yellow, according to some references; plants photographed here have pink/pale lavender florets. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024