Lactuca muralis
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Lactuca muralis, the wall lettuce, is a perennial flowering plant in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae. It is also referred to as Mycelis muralis.[1][2]
Its chief characteristic is its open airy clumps of yellow flowers. Each "flower" is actually a composite flower, consisting of 4–5 petal-like flowers (strap or ray flowers), each approximately Script error: No such module "convert". in length. There are no disc flowers. Lactuca muralis grows about Script error: No such module "convert". tall with the lower leaves pinnately toothed and clasping.
Description
Lactuca muralis is slender, hairless herb[1] growing from Script error: No such module "convert". tall. It often has purplish stems, and exudes a milky juice.
The lower leaves are lyre shaped, pinnate shaped. The lobes are triangular in shape, the terminal lobe being the largest.[3] The upper leaves are stalkless, smaller and less lobed. All leaves are red tinged.[4]
The achenes are short beaked, spindle shaped and black. The pappus has simple white hairs,[1] the inner longer than the outer.
The flower heads are yellow, small with only 4–5 yellow ray florets.[5][1] Script error: No such module "convert". wide more or less, on branches 90 degrees to the main stem, in loose panicle.[6] It flowers from June until September.[7]
Lactuca muralis is similar to Lactuca serriola L. and Lactuca virosa L. but clearly distinguished by having only 5 florets.[8]
Taxonomy
The specific Latin epithet muralis is interpreted as 'growing on walls'.[9]
Distribution and ecology
Lactuca muralis is a native of Europe but has invaded shady roadsides, paths and logged areas of the Pacific Northwest[10] and New England[11] It has become naturalized in parts of Northern Ireland as long ago as 1913.[12] It was first recorded in The Burren, where it is now frequent, in 1939.[13]
It can be found in woodlands, especially Beech.[6] It is also found in calcareous soils, and walls.
References
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- ↑ a b c d Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012. Webb's An Irish Flora. Cork University Press. Template:ISBN
- ↑ Altervista Flora Italiana, Lactuca muralis (L.) Gaertn. includes photos and European distribution map
- ↑ Clapham, A.R., Tutin, T.G. and Warburg, E.F. 1968 Excursion Flora of the British Isles Second Edition. Template:ISBN Cambridge
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Webb, D.A., Parnell, J. and Doogue. D. 1996. An Irish Flora. Dundalgan Press (W. Tempest) Ltd. Template:ISBN
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Martin, W.K.1965. The Concise British Flora in Colour Ebury Press
- ↑ Archibald William Smith Template:Trim&pg=PA160 Lactuca muralis, p. 160, at Google Books
- ↑ Turner and Gustafson, Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest.
- ↑ Template:Go Botany.
- ↑ Hackney, P. Ed. 1992. Stewart and Corry's Flora of the North-east of Ireland. Institute of Irish Studies and The Queen's University of Belfast. Template:ISBN(HB)
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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