How to identify Garden lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Garden lettuce, also known as Lettuce
Garden lettuce exhibits a range of forms depending on the chosen variety. Typically characterized by lush, leafy greens, garden lettuce grows in a rosette of leaves that may appear ruffled or smooth, with colors spanning from deep green to reddish-purple. Its leaves have variable shapes—rounded, lobed, or elongated—and textures that can be crisp, tender, or crunchy. Some garden lettuce varieties form tightly packed heads, while others develop more open, leafy structures. When fully grown, garden lettuce can reach up to 12 inches (30 cm) in height and width, displaying vibrant foliage that is both visually appealing and edible.
Lifespan: Annual, Biennial, Perennial
Plant Type: Herb
Leaf Type: Deciduous
Leaves vary in shapes, from lobed to elongated, with colors ranging from green to reddish-purple.
Flowers are small yellow compound heads with 7-15 florets and finely toothed petals.
Fruits are tiny achenes, narrow obovate in shape, with a plumose pappus for wind dispersal.
Stems are initially short, elongating up to 12-20 inches with a contorted branching pattern.
Overall height and width can reach up to 12 inches, displaying vibrant foliage with unique colors.
The leaves of garden lettuce exhibit a wide variety of shapes, from round to ragged and wavy. They can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) long. Most commonly green, the leaves also appear in whites, yellows, and red-purples, with solid, streaked, or speckled patterns. Texturally, the foliage ranges from smooth to slightly crinkled. The vein pattern is prominent, providing structural support. In higher temperatures, headed cultivars may form loose heads or no head at all.
The flowers of garden lettuce are small, typically yellow, and are arranged in a branched inflorescence known as a panicle with a flat top. Each compound flower head consists of 7-15 yellow florets. The flower petals are finely toothed at the ends and the heads are borne on tall stalks. Flowering usually renders the leaves bitter and halts the plant's growth, indicating an unfavorable stage for harvesting.
The stem of garden lettuce is initially very short and grows longer as the plant bolts. In head-forming cultivars, it remains relatively short, while in stem lettuce cultivars, it can elongate up to 12-20 inches (30-50 cm). The stem is generally smooth, pale green to whitish in color, and can exhibit a contorted branching pattern typical of bolting lettuce. It is also more robust and thicker in stem lettuce cultivars compared to head-forming types.
The fruit of garden lettuce are tiny achenes, which means that they are dry, do not split upon ripening, and contain one seed. Each achene is narrowly obovate, resembling an egg-shape with the broader end at the base, tapering to a beak-like tip. The achenes measure approximately 2-3 mm in length and are equipped with a pappus, featuring two rows of soft, white hairs. This plumose structure is reminiscent of a dandelion's fluff and aids in wind dispersal. The achenes themselves are typically pale brown to gray in color, with a smooth texture.
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Scientific Classification of Garden lettuce
