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lactuca

{{Short description|Genus of lettuces}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|image = Lactuca tuberosa 2.jpg

|image_caption = Lactuca tuberosa

|display_parents = 3

|taxon = Lactuca

|authority = L.

|synonyms_ref = {{cite POWO |id=327393-2 |title=Lactuca L. |access-date=21 March 2024}}

|synonyms =

  • Agathyrsus D. Don
  • Bunioseris Jord.
  • Cephalorrhynchus Boiss.
  • Cyanoseris (W.D.J.Koch) Schur
  • Lactucella Nazarova
  • Lactucopsis Schultz Bipontinus ex Visiani
  • Lagedium Soják
  • Mulgedium Cassini
  • Mycelis Cass.
  • Phaenixopus Cassini
  • Phoenicopus Spach
  • Pterocypsela C. Shih
  • Scariola F. W. Schmidt
  • Wiestia Sch.Bip.

}}

Lactuca, commonly known as lettuce, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus includes at least 50 species, distributed worldwide, but mainly in temperate Eurasia.

Its best-known representative is the garden lettuce (Lactuca sativa), with its many varieties. "Wild lettuce" commonly refers to the wild-growing relatives of common garden lettuce. Many species are common weeds. Lactuca species are diverse and take a wide variety of forms. They are annuals, biennials, perennials, or shrubs.{{Cite journal | doi=10.1663/0006-8101(2004)070[0328:GDOWLS]2.0.CO;2|year = 2004|volume = 70| issue=3|pages = 328–356| title=Geographical Distribution of Wild Lactuca Species (Asteraceae, Lactuceae)| journal=The Botanical Review| last1=Lebeda| first1=Aleš| last2=Dolezalová| first2=Ivana| last3=Feráková| first3=Viera| last4=Astley| first4=Dave}} Their flower heads have yellow, blue, or white ray florets. Some species are bitter-tasting.

Most wild lettuces are xerophytes, adapted to dry habitat types. Some occur in more moist areas, such as the mountains of central Africa.

Diversity

File:Illustration Lactuca virosa0.jpg) by Otto Wilhelm Thome in Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz, 1885]]

File:Lactucaserriola2web.jpg)]]

File:Lactuca tenerrima.jpg]]

File:Lactuca serriola flowers RJP 01.jpg

File:Lactuca tatarica.jpeg]]

There are different concepts of the species within Lactuca. It is not clear how many distinct species are known, and estimates vary from 50[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=117438 Lactuca.] Flora of China. to 75[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=117438 Lactuca.] Flora of North America. so far.

Species include:[https://archive.today/20130708062241/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?6451 GRIN Species Records of Lactuca.] Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).[http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Compositae/Lactuca/ Lactuca.] The Plant List. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Missouri Botanical Garden.

Ecology

Lactuca species are used as food plants by the larvae of many Lepidoptera species.

Etymology

'Lactuca' is derived from Latin and means 'having milky sap'. 'Lactuca' and 'lactic' (of or relating to milk) have the same root word, 'lactis'.Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|9780521866453}} (hardback), {{ISBN|9780521685535}} (paperback). pp 228

References

{{Reflist|32em}}

External links

  • [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?609,1466 Jepson Manual Treatment]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q578052}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Asteraceae genera