Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Lactuca ludoviciana
(Louisiana Lettuce)
Family: Asteraceae
Status: Native
Synonyms:
Sonchus ludovicianus Nuttall
Lactuca ludoviciana, Lactuca graminifolia & Lactuca pulchella are all very similar. All have bluish, yellow, white or purple flowers with leaves that can be linear or linear lanceolate, and beaked achenes. The distinguishing character for Lactuca ludoviciana is that the entire stem is leafy rather than just the bottom 1/2-3/4 of the stem. Lactuca ludoviciana is found in the western portion of the Gila National Forest at middle elevation in the Ponderosa Pine forest.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Lactuca ludoviciana, photo Russ Kleinman, and the Base Camp Botany hiking group, San Francisco Mtns., Pueblo Creek, Aug. 15, 2009
Lactuca ludoviciana, closeup of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, and the Base Camp Botany hiking group, San Francisco Mtns., Pueblo Creek, Aug. 15, 2009
Lactuca ludoviciana, closeup of achene, photo Russ Kleinman, and the Base Camp Botany hiking group, San Francisco Mtns., Pueblo Creek, Aug. 15, 2009
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