LACTUCA VIMINEA

Family:- COMPOSITAE/Sect. PHOENIXOPUS

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- Chondrilla viminea, Hieracium vimineum, Phaenixopus

decurrens

Phaenixopus vimineus, Prenanthes viminea, Scariola viminea

Meaning:- Lactuca (L) Reference to the milky sap.

Viminea (L) With long, slender shoots.

General description:- Glabrous biennial with a stout taproot.

Stem:-

1) 30-80 cm, erect, straw-coloured or whitish, with long slender branches.

Leaves:-

1) Glaucous, decurrent with long, appressed, linear auricles;

2) Lower pinnatifid to pinnatisect with linear-lanceolate, often dentate segments, the

undivided part of the lamina less than 2 cm wide.

3) Upper cauline reduced, but with 2 decurrent green lobes fused to the whitish

stem.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence a much-branched or spike-like panicle.

2) Capitula subsessile. (closing by midday).

3) Ligules pale yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes 7-15 mm; body narrowly oblong-elliptical, 5- to 15-ribbed, black; beak

shorter than or as long as body.

Key features:-

1) Usually biennial with a stout taproot.

2) Upper cauline reduced, but with 2 decurrent green lobes fused to the whitish

stem.

3) Stem 30-80 cm, usually solitary, erect with long slender branches.

4) Achenes 9-15 mm, with a beak c. equalling the body.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky slopes, screes, open shrubby vegetation, roadsides and somewhat

ruderalised habitats. 0-800 m.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout mainland Greece (particularly in the

mountains). Widespread in C & S Europe and SW Asia. Naturalised elsewhere. On

Crete scattered across the west with one location recorded from the east.

Flowering time:- July-Oct

Photos by:- Giorgos Pantakis