Wildflowers of the United States

Home Journal Family Index - All States Photo Albums News About Privacy

Woodland Lettuce, Florida Blue Lettuce, False Lettuce - Lactuca floridana


Family: Asteraceae - Aster family Genus Common Name: Lettuce Native Status: Native
Lactuca floridana - Woodland Lettuce, Florida Blue Lettuce, False Lettuce. Branching plant with loose cluster of small blue flowers. Lower leaves lobed, alternate; upper leaves lanceolate, entire or toothed.

Officially listed as Threatened in Michigan and as Endangered in New York, the New York City Wildflower Week reports to me that in New York it is found in a single site in the Bronx Borough.

Leave comments on Lactuca floridana at this link.
Lactuca floridana

Distribution of Lactuca floridana in the United States and Canada:
USDA Map temporarily unavailable.
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2017. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 16 Jan 2025). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

Search Our Database: Enter any portion of the Scientific, Common Name, or both.
Scientific name:
Common name:

Example: Enter "lob" in the common name field and you'll get all our species that have "lobelia" in the common name, as well as "sharp-lobed hepatica".

Do a general Google search of the entire site:

Follow on Twitter
Follow USWildflowers on Twitter



Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2009-March-11Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Pale blue (sometimes white) flower with ray florets - but no central disk florets. Interesting stamens formations. Most descriptions report 11 to 17 rays, but this specimen appears to have a couple more than that. Blossom looks somewhat similar to Chicory, but Chicory blossoms form in the leaf axils.
Lactuca floridana
#ad
Lactuca floridana initially published on USWildflowers.com 2009-09-13; Updated 2015-06-24

Commercial / Cookie Notice

Looking for Wildflowers for a specific state? Check here: