Prickly Lettuce
Lactuca serriola
Synonyms: Lactuca scariola, Lactuca scariola var. integrata, Lactuca scariola var. scariola
The photo above shows a close-up view of the dandylion like flower head of prickly lettuce. The flower heads tend to measure about 1 cm across and consist entirely of ray flowers. Photographed alongside Roads K1000 and K1110 to the east of the Mt. Adams Highway.........August 17, 2007.
The photo above shows a close-up sideview of the narrow involucres of prickly lettuce. Note the tiled arrangement of the involucral bracts. Photographed alongside Roads K1000 and K1110 to the east of the Mt. Adams Highway.........August 17, 2007.
The photo above shows a close-up of the upper leaf surface of prickly lettuce. Note the somewhat glauous cast to the leaves and the numerous marginal prickles along the irregular lateral lobes. Photographed alongside Roads K1000 and K1110 to the east of the Mt. Adams Highway.........August 17, 2007.
The photo above shows the lower leaf surface of prickly lettuce. Note the spines arising from the central vein (seen more closely below). Photographed alongside Roads K1000 and K1110 to the east of the Mt. Adams Highway........August 17, 2007.
The photo above shows a close-up view of the spines running the length of the central vein on the lower side of the leaf of prickly lettuce, helping to give this species its common name. Photographed alongside Roads K1000 and K1110 to the east of the Mt. Adams Highway..........August 17, 2007.
Paul Slichter