e-Key v<span id="jodit_selection_marker_1710498022864_07978001939831669" data-jodit_selection_marker="start" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>3 - *La<span id="jodit_selection_marker_1710498022864_9398663584776481" data-jodit_selection_marker="end" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>ctuca
SANBI Flora Keys Logo
Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Asteraceae - Lactuceae - *Lactuca L.

Description:

  • Annual, biennial or perennial, acaulescent or caulescent herbs with milky latex
  • Leaves alternate or radical; cauline leaves often auriculate-amplexicaul, entire, coarsely toothed or pinnatifid, glabrous
  • Capitula ligulate, solitary to corymbose or panicled
  • Involucres cylindric; bracts in several rows, elongating in fruiting stage
  • Receptacle flat, epaleate, alveolate
  • Florets ligulate, bisexual, fertile; corolla yellow, whitish purple or blue, strap-shaped, tube cylindric, with tuft of hairs below lamina; lamina shortly 3-5-lobed
  • Anthers linear, sagittate at base, auricles acute or shortly setaceous-acuminate; with lanceolate apical appendage
  • Style linear, sometimes terete above, pubescent on upper portion; branches linear, subobtuse, sweeping hairs long
  • Cypselas flattened, elliptic-oblong to obovate, ribbed, glabrous or scabrid-hispid, generally with distinct slender to filiform beak
  • Pappus of many fine, smooth or scabrid bristles
  • x = 9 (6, 8, 17) (polyploidy, B-chromosomes)

Nomenclature:

  • *Lactuca L.
    • Linnaeus: 795 (1753)
    • Linnaeus: 348 (1754)
    • Oliver & Hiern: 450 (1877)
    • Phillips: 854 (1951)
    • Hilliard: 629 (1977)
    • Pope: 196 (1992)
    • Bremer: 184 (1994)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global: Species ± 100, cosmopolitan, especially in north temperate regions
  • Southern Africa: Species 5, widespread

References:

  • BREMER, K. 1994. Asteraceae, cladistics & classification. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon
  • HILLIARD, O.M. 1977. Compositae in Natal. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg
  • LINNAEUS, C. VON. 1753. Species plantarum. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm
  • LINNAEUS, C. VON. 1754. Genera plantarum, edn 5. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm
  • OLIVER, D & HIERN, W.P. 1877. Compositae. Flora of tropical Africa 3
  • PHILLIPS, E.P. 1951. The genera of South African flowering plants, edn 2. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa No. 25
  • POPE, G.V. 1992. 97. Compositae. Flora zambesiaca 6,1

Copyright of the content hosted by this website remains with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), unless stated otherwise.
Material from this site may be used in other media, provided that SANBI is acknowledged by the name South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) or refer to the 'How to cite this resource' paragraph on the Home page.
Liability disclaimer: Visitors use this site at their own risk and SANBI is not liable for any of the consequences resulting therefrom.