Phil Bendle Collection:Mycelis muralis (Wall Lettuce)

Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Mycelis
Species: M. muralis
Binomial name: Mycelis muralis
Synonyms: Lactuca muralis, Prenanthes muralis, Cicerbita muralis,
Phaenopus muralis, Leitís bhalla
Common name: Wall Lettuce

Mycelis muralis is a slender, hairless, biennial or perennial flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae. It is native to Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa. In New Zealand it is found growing in anthropogenic habitats (man-made or disturbed habitats and in fields.

Mycelis muralis grows up to 150 cm tall, it is slender and hairless. It often has purplish stems which when cut exudes a milky juice.
The lower leaves are lyre-shaped, pinnate shaped. The lobes are triangular in shape. The upper leaves are stalkless, smaller, less lobed and they clasp the stems with rounded toothed lobes. All leaves are red-tinged.
Mycelis muralis has loose open clusters of small, yellow flowers which are comprised of 4-5 yellow strap-shaped ray florets about 1 cm wide on branches 90 degrees to the main stem. Flowering occurs over the summer months.
The achenes are short-beaked, spindle-shaped and are black in colour. The pappus has plum of simple white hairs, the inner longer than the outer. The pappus is spread by wind.

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The achenes
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Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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