Question: This is growing in a sunny spot near my house in Massachusetts. There is a cluster of flowers developing at …
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Question
This is growing in a sunny spot near my house in Massachusetts. There is a cluster of flowers developing at the top of the stem, only one of them open, 1 cm wide. Leaves are alternate, about 12 cm, without teeth or lobes. Height approaches 1 meter. The original stem was bitten off by deer. It survived future attack because mountain mint grew around it.
Answer
Dear jfc, good morning again. You appear to have photographed Lactuca canadensis (tall lettuce). This species is very variable with regard to its leaf blade outline. Some are entire, others are lobed with long segments. If you bruise a leaf you will see a tan latex (look closely, it will not be bright white like other members of the genus). Best wishes.
