Appearance
''Lactuca muralis'' is slender, hairless herb growing from 25 to 150 cm tall. It often has purplish stems, and exudes a milky juice.The lower leaves are lyre shaped, pinnate shaped. The lobes are triangular in shape the terminal lobe being the largest. The upper leaves are stalkless, smaller and less lobed. All leaves are red tinged.
The achenes are short beaked, spindle shaped and black. The pappus has simple white hairs, the inner longer than the outer.
The flower heads are yellow, small with only 4-5 yellow ray florets. 1 cm wide more or less, on branches 90 degrees to the main stem, in loose panicle. It flowers from June until September.
''Lactuca muralis'' is similar to ''Lactuca serriola'' L. and ''Lactuca virosa'' L. but clearly distinguished having only 5 florets.
Distribution
''Lactuca muralis'' is a native of Europe but has invaded shady roadsides, paths and logged areas of the Pacific Northwest and New England It has become naturalized in parts of Northern Ireland as long ago as 1913.It can be found in woodlands, especially Beech. It is also found in calcareous soils, and walls.
Habitat
''Lactuca muralis'' is a native of Europe but has invaded shady roadsides, paths and logged areas of the Pacific Northwest and New England It has become naturalized in parts of Northern Ireland as long ago as 1913.It can be found in woodlands, especially Beech. It is also found in calcareous soils, and walls.
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