About Lactuca graminifolia Michx.
Lactuca graminifolia Michx. is a biennial herb belonging to the dandelion tribe of the daisy family. It grows from a taproot and can reach up to 150 cm (5 feet) in height. The top of its stem produces a multibranched inflorescence that holds many flower heads. Each head contains 15 to 20 blue or purple ray florets, and has no disc florets. Its fruit is a brown achene. The native range of L. graminifolia stretches from North Carolina south to Florida, and west to Louisiana. This species has been recorded growing in pine flatwoods, longleaf pine-wiregrass pinelands, and fallow fields. It grows in dry, loamy soils.
