HerbWildAnnual

Lactuca dissecta D.Don

Split leaf lettuce

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Description

Lactuca dissecta is an annual or biennial herb, usually 30–120 cm tall, producing white milky latex. Stems are erect, branched above, and glabrous to sparsely hairy. Basal leaves are deeply pinnatifid to dissected, while the upper leaves are smaller, sessile, and clasp the stem. Flower heads are numerous, small, and arranged in loose terminal panicles. All florets are yellow and ligulate. Fruits are narrow brown achenes with a slender beak and a white pappus of fine bristles.

Diagnostic Characters

Vegetative

Deeply dissected basal leaves and milky latex.

Floral

Numerous small yellow ligulate flower heads arranged in loose panicles.

Fruit & Seed

Beaked achenes with a white pappus.

Distribution

Native range: Central and South Asia.

In Pakistan: Occurs in northern Pakistan, particularly in the Himalayan region and adjoining mountainous areas.

Phenology

Flowering

Fruiting

Flowering: May–August Fruiting: June–September

Ethnobotany & Uses

Uses

Young leaves are occasionally eaten as a pot herb in some local communities. Traditionally used for digestive complaints and mild inflammatory conditions. Serves as forage for grazing animals.

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Where it grows on campus

This species is on the campus floristic list but was not pinned during the GPS mapping survey, so it has no map records yet.

Taxonomic Notes

Lactuca dissecta is distinguished from other Pakistani species of Lactuca by its deeply dissected basal leaves, yellow ligulate florets, and slender beaked achenes. The species is accepted by Flora of Pakistan, Plants of the World Online (POWO), and World Flora Online (WFO).