COMPOSITE FAMILY. Composites. 



Lactuca A leSS leafy and lower s P e . cies ' found in 



Mrsuta similar situations. The leaves like those 



of L. Canadensis, but fine-hairy ; the red- 

 dish stem hairy at the base ; the scattered flower-cluster 

 with insignificant dull lilac, or dingy pink- white flowers. 

 2-4 feet high. Me., west to Minn. , south to Ala. and Tex. 

 _ The tallest member of the genus, with a 



Lettuce stout, straight, smooth stem, leafy up to 



Lactuca the straggling, large flower-cluster of in- 



leucophasa significant flowers which are never fully 



Shite 1 " 1 ' 1 * f ex P anded - The S reen flower-heads tipped 

 Ju i with inconspicuous dull purplish or whit- 



September ishrays. The deeply lobed leaves are large 

 and irregularly wavy-toothed. 3-15 feet 

 high. Damp shady places northward, south to S. Car. 

 A tall annual, naturalized from Europe, 

 Sonchus with thistlelike prickle-edged leaves, and a 



oleraceus stout, hollow, succulent, smooth, grooved 



Light yellow stem. The large, decorative, usually lobed 



May ~ leaves are irregularly toothed and armed 



September 



with sort spines : the upper ones clasp the 



plant-stem, the lower are stalked. The light yellow, 

 thistle-shaped flower-heads are grouped in a somewhat 

 toosely spreading flat cluster. The stem is sometimes 

 reddish at the base. 1-6 feet or more high. Common 

 everywhere in waste places or manured soil. 



Similar, but with less divided leaves, the 

 lower ones blunt lance -shaped, the upper 

 May- clasping the plant-stem by rounded lobes, 



September all irregularly toothed and spiny. The light 

 yellow downy, flat-headed flowers are set in a loose 

 cluster ; they are succeeded by a copious white down. 

 The seeds have long ribs, smooth between, while those 

 of the preceding species are laterally rough between. 

 The flowers are assisted in the process of fertilization by 

 the Syrphid, beelike flies, and those of the genus 

 Eristalis. The honeybee (Apis melliftca) is always a 

 common visitor. Formerly the milk-juiced, succulent 

 leaves were used as a pot herb. Waste places every- 

 where. The Greek name Sonchus (Sow Thistle) is a de 

 grading title for such a decorative-leaved plant ! 



534 



