IPMP3.0, Oregon State University, Copyright 2000

Prickly Lettuce
Asteraceae (Lactuca serriola)

CONTENTS

Biology and Management

Registered Herbicides

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Prickly Lettuce Seedling (link to large image)

Prickly Lettuce Flower (link to large image)

Prickly Lettuce Seedling Prickly Lettuce Flowers

Prickly Lettuce Mature Plant (link to large image)

Prickly lettuce is a winter annual or biennial that reproduces only by seed, but may overwinter as a rosette. Flowers are present July to September. Mature plants are 1 to 5 feet tall with branches primarily in the upper flowering portion of the plant. Roots, stems, and leaves exude a milky juice when broken. Flowers are pale to bright yellow and borne on slender stalks, terminally at branch ends. This weed is native to Europe, but now occurs throughout the United States. It thrives on nutrient rich soils. It is a common weed in orchards, ornamental stock, horticultural and agronomic crops, and roadsides. This species may hydridize with cultivated lettuce.
Prickly Lettuce Mature Plant

Description

This section contains information on identification of the different life stages of Prickly Lettuce.  Select Biology and Management from the Contents Menu for more information on the biology and management, or select Registered Herbicides for the herbicides that are registered to control this weed in mint.