Class JLIX. Order I. 287 



203. LACTUCA. 



LACTUCA ELONGATA. MuhL Tall Lettuce. 



Leaves smooth, the lower ones runcinate, clasping ; 

 the upper ones lanceolate, sessile ; flowers panicled. 



This plant, I am informed, sometimes appears in great abun- 

 dance on grounds which are newly burnt over, and on this ac- 

 count it has received the name of Fire weed in some parts of the 

 interior. The whole plant is lactescent. Stem erect, four or 

 five feet high. Lower leaves long, spreading, runcinate, clasp- 

 ing the stem. Upper leaves sessile. The stem terminates in a 

 large, spreading panicle of yellow flowers, which remain ex- 

 panded but a short time. July, August. 



Variety (3. linearis. When the top of the plant is destroyed 

 by accident, young branches shoot up with entire linear leaves, 

 appearing like a different species. 



* LACTUCA INTEGRIFOLIA. Arrow leaved Lettuce. 



L. foliis sagittalis, integris, inermibus, ampkxicau- 

 libns ; floribus paniculatis. 



Leaves sagittate, entire, unarmed, clasping ; flowers 

 panicled. 



Stem three or four feet high, round, smooth, striated, Leaves 

 sessile, lanceolate, sagittate at base, entire, the lower ones a lit- 

 tle eroded, pale underneath, the middle rib smooth. Panicle 

 more compact than in L. elongata. Calyx cylindric-urceolate, 

 the scales tipt with brown. Corolla yellow. 



The uniformly entire leaves of this plant sufficiently distin- 

 guish it from L. elongata, from which it may nevertheless be 

 possibly descended. Road sides. July. Biennial. 



* LACTUCA SANGUINEA. Wood Lettuce. 



L. foliis amplexicaulibus, runcinatis, subtus glands, 

 carina jilamentosa ; floribus paniculatis. 



Leaves clasping, runcinate, glaucous underneath, 

 with the midrib filamentous ; flowers panicled. 



Stem erect, smooth, two or three feet high, mostly of a dark 

 reddish purple colour. Leaves all clasping, runcinate, the lobes 



