Lactuca
Sign in to saveLactuca, commonly known as lettuce, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus includes at 117 recognized species, distributed worldwide, but mainly in temperate Eurasia.
AI overview
Lactuca is the scientific name for lettuce, a common flowering plant that belongs to the daisy family and includes about 117 different species found worldwide, particularly in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. It matters because lettuce is one of the most widely cultivated vegetables, making Lactuca an important genus for global food production.
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Taxonomy · GBIF
GENUS
- KingdomPlantae
- PhylumTracheophyta
- ClassMagnoliopsida
- OrderAsterales
- FamilyAsteraceae
via GBIF · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Cichorieae
- Image
- Lactuca tuberosa 2.jpg
Show 4 more facts
- P105
- genus
Article
5 sectionsContents
- Diversity
- Ecology
- Etymology
- References
- External links
Lactuca, commonly known as lettuce, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus includes at 117 recognized species, distributed worldwide, but mainly in temperate Eurasia.
Its best-known representative is the garden lettuce (Lactuca sativa), with its many varieties. "Wild lettuce" commonly refers to the wild-growing relatives of common garden lettuce. Many species are common weeds. Lactuca species are diverse and take a wide variety of forms. They are annuals, biennials, perennials, or shrubs. Their flower heads have yellow, blue, or white ray florets. Some species are bitter-tasting.