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.

See the BSBI distribution map for Prickly Lettuce

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