Lactuca muralis
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant in the daisy family}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Mycelis muralis.jpeg
|genus = Lactuca
|species = muralis
|authority = (L.) Gaertn. 1791 not Fresen. 1832
|synonyms_ref = {{cite POWO |title=Lactuca muralis (L.) Gaertn. |id=60439779-2 |access-date=19 June 2025}}
|synonyms = {{collapsible list|
- Chondrilla erysimifolia Poir.
- Chondrilla muralis (L.) Lam.
- Chondrilla ruderalis Gaertn. ex Steud.
- Cicerbita muralis (L.) Wallr.
- Cicerbita muralis subsp. gaditana Mejías
- Hieracium mycelis E.H.L.Krause
- Hieracium pauciflorum Bernh.
- Lactuca atlantica Pomel
- Lactuca erysimifolia DC.
- Lapsana erysimifolia Thell.
- Mycelis angulosa Cass.
- Mycelis muralis (L.) Dumort.
- Mycelis muralis f. integrifolia (Beckh.) Soó
- Phaenixopus muralis (L.) W.D.J.Koch
- Prenanthes muralis L.
- Prenanthes erysimifolia Willd.
- Prenanthes multiflosculosa Nees
- Prenanthes parviflora Gilib.
- Prenanthes vulgaris Gueldenst.
}}
}}
Lactuca muralis, the wall lettuce, is a perennial flowering plant in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae. It is also referred to as Mycelis muralis.Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012. Webb's An Irish Flora. Cork University Press. {{ISBN|978-185918-4783}}[http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=lactuca+muralis Altervista Flora Italiana, Lactuca muralis (L.) Gaertn.] includes photos and European distribution map
Its chief characteristic is its open airy clumps of yellow flowers. Each "flower" is actually a composite flower, consisting of 4–5 petal-like flowers (strap or ray flowers), each approximately {{convert|5|–|7|mm|in|abbr=on}} in length. There are no disc flowers. Lactuca muralis grows about {{convert|2|-|4|feet|m|1}} tall with the lower leaves pinnately toothed and clasping.
Description
Lactuca muralis is slender, hairless herb growing from {{convert|25|to|150|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} 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.Clapham, A.R., Tutin, T.G. and Warburg, E.F. 1968 Excursion Flora of the British Isles Second Edition. {{ISBN|0-521-04656-4}} Cambridge The upper leaves are stalkless, smaller and less lobed. All leaves are red tinged.{{cite book |last=Blamey, Fitter, Fitter |first=Marjorie, Richard, Alistair|title=Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland|year=2003 |publisher=A & C Black - London|isbn=0-7136-5944-0 |pages=302–303}}
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.{{cite book |last=Sterry |first=Paul|title=Complete British Wild Flowers|year=2006 |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Ltd|isbn=978-0-00-781484-8 |pages=212–213}} {{convert|1|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}} wide more or less, on branches 90 degrees to the main stem, in loose panicle.Webb, D.A., Parnell, J. and Doogue. D. 1996. An Irish Flora. Dundalgan Press (W. Tempest) Ltd. {{ISBN|0 85221 131 7}} It flowers from June until September.{{cite book |last=Rose |first=Francis|author-link=Francis Rose |title=The Wild Flower Key |year=1981 |publisher=Frederick Warne & Co|isbn=0-7232-2419-6 |pages=390–391}}
Lactuca muralis is similar to Lactuca serriola L. and Lactuca virosa L. but clearly distinguished by having only 5 florets.Martin, W.K.1965. The Concise British Flora in Colour Ebury Press
Taxonomy
The specific Latin epithet muralis is interpreted as 'growing on walls'.Archibald William Smith {{google books|ahNMkgoNJ7IC&lpg=PA160&pg=PA241|A Gardener's Handbook of Plant Names: Their Meanings and Origins|page=160}}
Distribution and ecology
Lactuca muralis is a native of Europe but has invaded shady roadsides, paths and logged areas of the Pacific NorthwestTurner and Gustafson, Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest. and New England{{Go Botany |genus=Mycelis |species=muralis |common=wall-lettuce |access-date=2018-06-24}}. It has become naturalized in parts of Northern Ireland as long ago as 1913.Hackney, P. Ed. 1992. Stewart and Corry's Flora of the North-east of Ireland. Institute of Irish Studies and The Queen's University of Belfast. {{ISBN|0 85389 446 9}}(HB) It was first recorded in The Burren, where it is now frequent, in 1939.{{cite web |title=Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora:Mycelis muralis |url=https://www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas/plant/mycelis-muralis |publisher=Biological Records centre and Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland |access-date=18 June 2020 }}
It can be found in woodlands, especially Beech. It is also found in calcareous soils, and walls.
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{Commons-inline|Mycelis muralis}}
- {{Wikispecies-inline|Lactuca muralis}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q15629257|from2=Q1546483}}