Species Detail Forb

Flower Willow Lake - Sue Smith		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Lactuca serriola - prickly lettuce Other Common Names: wild lettuce Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub Family: Asteraceae
Flower Willow Lake - Sue Smith


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Forb Plant Description

Origin: Introduced Life Cycle: Biennial or annual
General Desc: A weed which grows from a large taproot with yellow flower heads of ray flowers and leafy stems filled with a milky juice. The principal stem branches are where flowering occurs, sometimes flower heads are on a few short branches from the base.
Identification notes: Annual herb; leafy-stemmed with milky sap. leaves oblong or elliptic, bearing small spines, dissected to not lobed; flower head open with spreading branches; flowers head of yellow ray flowers.
Height: To 6 feet

Habitat

Habitat Description: Grows along roadsides and disturbed areas such as pastures or cultivated fields. Grows most abundantly on nutrient-rich soils.
Plant Communities: Disturbed Areas
Elevation: 1000 - 8000 feet

Flower Characteristics

Color: Yellow Shape: Daisy or dandelion-like in round clusters Tubular: N Flowering Period: May - Oct
Description: Composed solely of ray flowers which are about 1/3 inch wide, on short stalks that grow on the branched, upper stems; when in seed forms miniature dandelion-like tufts.

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Bluish-green Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Shape: Pinnatifid Leaf Margin: Lobed Leaf Attachment: Alternate Leaves Clasp: Y
Hairs: Leaves and stems Spines: Y
Leaf Description: Variable in shape and size, to 10 inches long at base, graduating to smaller size on upper stems. The upper leaf surface is hairless, but there are prickles along the edge. The midrib of the lower leaf surface is lined with prickles.

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Color: Gray or yellowish, brownish
Fruit Type: Achene
Fruit Notes: Each flower head has 6 to 30 flattened fruits with 5 to 7 parallel ridges on each side. The single-seeded fruit has a tuft of soft white bristles (pappus) that are about 1/10 inch long on a slender beak that is nearly as long as the fruit.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer