Prairie Lettuce (Lactuca ludoviciana (Nutt.) Riddell)
Also known as Western Lettuce, Louisiana lettuce, biannual lettuce.
↑Range - Expand
| Legend | Color |
| Native | |
| Expanded | |
| Not Present | |
| Native or Not Present | |
| Native or Expanded | |
| Expanded or Not Present | |
| Native or Expanded or Not Present |
This map is based on our research. We have checked its accuracy to Level 3 ecoregions. Although this plant occurs somewhere in each of these regions, it may only occur in a small part of some or all of them.
This species is native to the central US, south well into Mexico, and north barely into Canada. It has however expanded westward in the US and Canada. Because this genus is hard to ID, and has already been found in a wide variety of habitats and ecoregions, it is likely more widespread than reported.
↑Notes
Of all the common names, we found the name "Prairie Lettuce" to be the most accurate and descriptive as this species' range closely coincides with the extent of the North American prairies. The name "biannual lettuce", although descriptive of this species, does little to distinguish it from other species as numerous other members of this genus are also biennials. "Western Lettuce" is also not the best name for this species as its range is more the central portion of the country, not the true West. "Louisiana lettuce" is also not the best name; although this species is native to Louisiana, that state is near its southeastern range limits and most of its range lies to the north and somewhat to the west.
↑Links & External Resources
• Lactuca ludoviciana (Prairie Lettuce) | Illinois Wildflowers (About This Site)
• Lactuca ludoviciana (biannual lettuce) | USDA PLANTS Database (About This Site)
• Western Lettuce | iNaturalist (About This Site)
• Lactuca ludoviciana | Biota of North America Project (BONAP) (About This Site)
• Lactuca ludoviciana | NatureServe Explorer (About This Site)
• Lactuca ludoviciana | Flora of North America (About This Site)
• Lactuca ludoviciana (Louisiana Lettuce) | Minnesota Wildflowers (About This Site)
• Lactuca ludoviciana (Nutt.) Riddell | Plants of the World Online (POWO) (About This Site)
↑Photo gallery
