THE DAISY FAMILY 
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calyx-hairs (pappus). Herbs with a milky juice, and all the leaves from the root (radical), very deeply 
lobed, with the lobes turned downwards, pointing towards the base (runcinate). 
Common Dandelion. (Taraxacum officinale, Web.) — The only British species, as 
just described, of which there are 4 varieties, differing from one another in the outer flower-bracts 
being sometimes turned back and sometimes erect, and in variations in the colour and lobing of 
the leaves. Root long, narrow, tapering (tap-root). A valuable medicine. [ Plate 64. 
Very common everywhere. March — October. Perennial. 
LETTUCE. (LACTUCA, LINN.) — Flower-heads small, numerous, few-flowered, in a much- 
branched, usually rather straggling cluster (panicle.) Florets all strap-shaped (ligulate), yellow, 
blue, or purple. Flower-bracts few, in 2-4 rows, those of the outer row much shorter. Calyx-tube 
surmounted with simple hairs ; petals 5, united at the base into a tube, and spreading into a 
5-toothed, strap-shaped limb (ligulate) ; stamens 5, with the anthers united ; carpels 2, united ; 
fruit an achene, beaked, crowned with the calyx-hairs (pappus). Herbs with leafy, branched stems, 
and milky juice. 
Strong-scented or Acrid Lettuce. (Lactuca virosa, Linn.) — As just described. The 
small flower-heads inch across, in a branched cluster (panicle) ; the florets pale yellow the 
flower-bracts often tinged with red, and the achenes purplish-black; the stem 18 inches to 6 feet 
high, rough, with small prickles, simple below, and much branched above, often spotted with 
purple; the leaves of the root (radical) oblong, undivided, 6-18 inches long, wavy, toothed 
(dentate) ; of the stem, oblong, stalkless (sessile), with 2 rounded lobes at the base (auricles), 
clasping the stem (amplexicaul) ; the lower leaves often spotted with black. The whole plant 
with a bluish bloom (glaucous), and a bitter juice. 
Rather rare. Banks, cliffs. July — August. Biennial. 
Prickly Lettuce. (Lactuca Scariola, Linn.) — A very similar plant, though less prickly ; 
the fruit grey ; the branches and leaves more erect ; the leaves oblong, the lower ones more deeply 
lobed (pinnatifid), the upper ones usually entire, with the lobes clasping the stem, and pointing 
downwards like an arrow-head (sagittate) ; the whole plant is of a deeper green, and has less 
bluish bloom. 
Very rare. Waste places. July — August. Biennial or annual. 
Least Lettuce. (Lactuca saligna, Linn.) — Another similar plant, with grey fruit ; the 
flower-heads growing in small, short, erect clusters up the stem (sub-spicate), which is smooth 
and slender ; the upper leaves narrow, entire, and shaped like a halbert (hastate) at the base. 
Very rare. Chalky pastures near the sea. July — August. Biennial. 
Ivy-leafed Lettuce. (Lactuca muralis, Fresen.) — Another similar plant, with larger 
flower-heads, § inch across, each made up of 5 florets, pale yellow, in a slender, much-branched, 
angular, straggling cluster (panicle) ; the flower-bracts few, in 2 rows, the inner long and equal, 
the outer few and minute, reddish ; the achenes purplish-black. [As described in the genus 
Lactuca.] The stem 9 inches to 3 feet high, slender and smooth (glabrous) ; the leaves pale green, 
bluish-grey (glaucous) underneath ; those of the root (radical) deeply lobed towards the midrib, 
with the terminal lobe much the largest (lyrately-pinnatifid) ; those of the stem, few, small, with 
very narrow bases, clasping the stem, and spreading into a halbert-shaped point (hastate). [ Plate 75. 
Rather rare. Walls, shady rocks. June — August. Annual. 
Blue Sow-thistle. (Lactuca alpina, Benth.) — A very rare species, only growing on the 
Lochnagar and Clova mountains, where collectors are eradicating it. It has pale blue flower- 
heads, 1 inch across, in long terminal clusters (racemes) fleshy stems 3 feet high, with the upper 
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