[Wild Lettuce: The Genus Lactuca in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Prickly Lettuce

Lactuca serriola

Synonyms: Lactuca scariola, Lactuca scariola var. integrata, Lactuca scariola var. scariola

Flower head of Prickly Lettuce: Lactuca serriola (Synonyms: Lactuca scariola, Lactuca scariola var. integrata, Lactuca scariola var. scariola) - Involucral bracts of Prickly Lettuce: Lactuca serriola (Synonyms: Lactuca scariola, Lactuca scariola var. integrata, Lactuca scariola var. scariola)

C close-up views 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. Note the tiled arrangement of the involucral bracts.

Stem leaf of Prickly Lettuce: Lactuca serriola (Synonyms: Lactuca scariola, Lactuca scariola var. integrata, Lactuca scariola var. scariola)

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.

Lower leaf surface of Prickly Lettuce: Lactuca serriola (Synonyms: Lactuca scariola, Lactuca scariola var. integrata, Lactuca scariola var. scariola)

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.

Prickles on the lower leaf surface of 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 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