Lactuca
Meikle, R.D. 1977: Flora of Cyprus 1 but supplemented and rearranged
1 | Cauline leaves much reduced, the bases strongly decurrent, forming interrupted green wings down the stem |
1' | Cauline leaves sometimes auriculate, but not forming wings down the stem |
6 | Capitula containing 5 (or more, rarely 4) florets; ligules 2.5-3 mm wide; plant biennial, 35-150 cm high; branches usually virgate; partial inflorescences spiciform |
6' | Capitula containing 4 florets; ligules 4 mm wide; plant perennial, 7-30 cm high; branches not virgate; inflorescence corymbose |
2 | Flowers yellow or yellowish (purplish or reddish externally, or sometimes blue when drying); achene beak without lobes at the base |
2' | Flowers white with pink tinge; achene beak +/- 2-lobed at base |
3 | Achenes strongly compressed or flattened; plant with fusiform tuber, woody rootstock or tap root |
3' | Achenes not strongly compressed; rhizome globose, 2-4 cm diam. |
4 | Involucre 1.5-2.5 cm long at anthesis (up to 3 cm long in fruit); achenes almost flattened with a narrow marginal wing; root tuberous |
4' | Involucre less than 1.5 cm long at anthesis; root not tuberous |
5 | Base of stem , and undersurface of leaf-midrib prickly; leaf-blade held in a vertical plane (edgewise) to stem; achene beak 3-3.5 mm long |
5' | Base of stem, and undersurface of leaf-midrib smooth; leaf-blade held horizontally; achene beak c. 6 mm long |