Lactuca serriola

note the clasping stem of the leaf
  Close up of leaf showing fine spines
Lactuca serriola has a spineless reddish stem, containing a milky latex, growing from 30 to 200 cm (12 to 79 in).
The leaves get progressively smaller as they reach its top. They are oblong or lanceolate, often pinnately lobed and (especially for the lower leaves), waxy grey green. Fine spines are present along the veins and leaf edges. The undersides have whitish veins. They emit latex when cut.
The flower heads are 11 to 13 mm (0.43 to 0.51 in) wide, pale yellow, often tinged purple, with 12-20 ray flowers but no disc flowers. The bracts are also often tinged purple. It flowers from July until September in the northern hemisphere. The achenes are grey, tipped with bristles. The pappus is white with equal length hairs.Similar to Mycelis muralis but showing more than 5 florets.
It can cause pulmonary emphysema in cattle feeding exclusively on the plant.

Lactuca Serriola

Lactuca serriola

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