Lactuca serriolaCommon name: Prickly Lettuce

Meaning of name: Lactuca is Latin meaning lettuce. It comes from the words lac or lactis meaning milk, referring to the milky sap. Serriola is the name given to the plant by Linnaeus.

Distribution: It is found throughout the southwest of Western Australia.

Remarks: Lactuca serriola can grow to 2 metres tall and has yellow flowers in December. It is native to Europe.

References: Western Weeds, A Guide to the Weeds of Western Australia. BMJ Hussey, GJ Keighery, J Dodd, SG Lloyd, RD Cousens. 1997.
Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. 1996.
Flora of the Perth Region. NG Marchant, JR Wheeler, BL Rye, EM Bennett, NS Lander, TD Macfarlane. 1987.