Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Lactuca oblongifolia Nuttall
(Chicory Lettuce, Blue Lettuce)


Family: Asteraceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Lactuca pulchella(Pursh) A.P. de Candolle
Lactuca tatarica (Linnaeus) C.A. Meyer subsp. pulchella (Pursh) A.P. de Candolle
Mulgedium pulchellum (Pursh) G. Don
Sonchus pulchellus Pursh

Lactuca oblongifolia is perennial herb with blue-purple flowerheads. It can be found in disturbed areas, but also in lower Ponderosa Pine forest. The leaves are lanceolate and usually entire but may be shallowly dentate especially at the base. The rays have two shallow notches at the apex.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Lactuca oblongifolia, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Kelly Kindscher, Tularosa River at Apache Creek, Aug. 11, 2009



Lactuca oblongifolia, closeup of inflorescence, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris & Kelly Kindscher, Tularosa River at Apache Creek, Aug. 11, 2009


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