Question: Hi, I can’t figure out what composite family member this is. Lactuca? Crepis? Hieracium? Habitat is woodland in southern Vermont. …
-
Question
Hi, I can’t figure out what composite family member this is. Lactuca? Crepis? Hieracium? Habitat is woodland in southern Vermont. Inflorescence is a panicle. Ray flowers are consistently 5 in number. Sap is slightly milky. It is extremely common.
Answer
Dear rgrumbine, you've collected Mycelis muralis (wall-lettuce), a non-native member of the composite. The yellow ray flowers that consistently number five per capitulum, as you noted, are good traits to focus on for identification. It is sometimes invasive, especially after forestry operations.
