Seasonal Wild Flowers

Prickly Lettuce

Lactuca serriola

Asteraceae

July to September

It is found throughout the country except for parts of the North and

the far Southwest.

For a map see the National Biodiversity Network Gateway

It is an archaeophyte which has spread during the development

of roads in the 20th century.

It grows on waste ground, disturbed bare areas, sea walls and

alongside roads.

Prickly Lettuce is an annual or biennial herb growing up to 2m.

Flowers are pale yellow, small (up to 13mm) and mauve-tipped

in bud.

The outer florets are pale and inner florets are yellow.

Leaves have weak prickles round the margins and along the mid

rib on the underside.

Prickly Lettuce flower clusters

Newly open flower

Mauve tipped flower bud

Lower leaves

Prickly leaves and lower mid rib