Wildflowers of the United States

Home Journal Family Index - All States Photo Albums News About Privacy

Wild Lettuce, Canada Lettuce - Lactuca canadensis


Family: Asteraceae - Aster family Genus Common Name: Lettuce Native Status: Native
Lactuca canadensis - Wild Lettuce, Canada Lettuce. Tall plant with milky sap and yellow flowers. Leaves usually lobed, especially the lower leaves, but that is not always the case. Some authorities recognize multiple varieties, primarily based on leaf shape. Similar to non-native species Lactuca serrata, but that plant has prickles on the foliage.

Akin to garden lettuce, the young leaves are edible either in salads or cooked; slightly bitter.

Leave comments on Lactuca canadensis at this link.
Lactuca canadensis

Distribution of Lactuca canadensis in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

Search Our Database: Enter any portion of the Scientific, Common Name, or both.
Scientific name:
Common name:

Example: Enter "lob" in the common name field and you'll get all our species that have "lobelia" in the common name, as well as "sharp-lobed hepatica".

Do a general Google search of the entire site:


#ad

Follow on Twitter
Follow USWildflowers on Twitter





#ad
Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-July-30Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Lactuca canadensis has small 1/4" - 1/2" yellow blossoms with ray flowers only.
Lactuca canadensis
Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-July-30Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Wild Lettuce' flower cluster is pretty tight when it first forms.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Lactuca canadensis
Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-July-30Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
The flower cluster broadens significantly as it matures.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Lactuca canadensis
Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-July-30Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Upper leaves and stem of Lactuca canadensis. When broken, the leaves and stem exude a milky sap, which turns brown. Some herbalists use it to make a sedative.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Lactuca canadensis
Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-July-30Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Lower leaves and stem of Wild lettuce. Most varieties of L. canadensis have lobed leaves, similar to a dandelion's. On this colony, most of the leaves were lanceolate or obovate, but the lowest few leaves were lobed.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Lactuca canadensis
#ad
Lactuca canadensis initially published on USWildflowers.com 2009-08-01; Updated 2015-06-24

Commercial / Cookie Notice

Looking for Wildflowers for a specific state? Check here:



All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer



Code Update 20230302