Wild Lettuce
Common name
Wild Lettuce
Scientific Name
Lactuca saligna
Type of plant
Daisies & Thistles (Family Asteraceae)
About this weed
This weed is very similar to Lactuca serriola (the Prickly Lettuce) except that it has no prickles. It is native to Eurasia but how it came to Western Australia isn’t documented.
Description
Wild Lettuce is a rigid, erect annual or biennial weed growing from a taproot to about 1 m high. It is more slender than Prickly Lettuce and the leaves are narrow and deeply lobed with no prickles.The flower head has pale yellow ray florets with toothed tips.
Impact on Bushland
Not available.
Location
Scattered along drainage lines in the wetter areas of the Eremaean and South-West Provinces.
Priority for removal
High: major threat to the conservation values of Banksia woodlands and South-West Province.
Management (hand)
Not available.
Management (herbicide)
Not available.
Flowering month/s
January, February, March, April, May
Flower colour/s
Yellow
Information source
https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/8095
Additional information
https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/weeds/swanweeds/
Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Dodd, J., Lloyd, S.G. and Cousens, R.D. (2007) Western weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia, Second Edition, The Weeds Society of Western Australia, Victoria Park, Western Australia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactuca_saligna
