General:
Annual or biennial herb from a fibrous root; stems erect, branched above, solitary or more usually several, glabrous, often glaucous, exuding milky juice when broken, 30-90 cm tall.

Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves alternate; basal and lower leaves 6-18 cm long, 3-8 cm wide, pinnately cut with a broad, ivylike terminal segment, the bases with earlike and clasping flanges, glabrous, middle and upper leaves few and reduced.

Flowers:
Heads with strap-shaped flowers, numerous in a rounded inflorescence; involucres 9-11 mm tall; involucral bracts in 2 series, the outer lanceolate, the inner much reduced, linear, glabrous or nearly so; ray flowers yellow, 5.

Fruits:
Achenes several-nerved, approximately 4 mm long including the 1 mm long beak; pappus white.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Illustration Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Lactuca muralis (L.) Fresen.