Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Asteraceae / Compositae ⟩ Lactuca virosa / great lettuce

Lactuca virosa L.

great lettuce (Asteraceae / Compositae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
WidespreadStrong tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Lactuca virosa is a tall plant of waste ground and similar settings; the purple stems and leaf-midribs separate it from Lactuca serriola.

Shingle Street (VC25: East Suffolk); 2019-07-12

 great lettuce / Lactuca virosa: _Lactuca virosa_ is a tall plant of waste ground and similar settings; the purple stems and leaf-midribs separate it from _Lactuca serriola_.

The inflorescences are yellow, but only open briefly before fruiting.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2019-07-09

 great lettuce / Lactuca virosa: The inflorescences are yellow, but only open briefly before fruiting.

The achenes of Lactuca virosa are flattened and dark reddish brown, with a spindly white beak before the pappus.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2019-07-09

 great lettuce / Lactuca virosa: The achenes of _Lactuca virosa_ are flattened and dark reddish brown, with a spindly white beak before the pappus.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne