Lactuca cypria, the Cyprus lettuce, is a biennial, erect herb with glandular, hairy stems and a globose rhizome. Leaves alternate, simple, the basal large, oblong, petiolate, 10-15 x 5–7 cm, pinnatisect with a suborbicular terminal lobe, the upper smaller, often with a profound purple colour at the lower surface. Flowers in heads, capitula in corymbs, florets pale yellow, all ligulate, flowers April–July, fruit a pappose achene.[4]

Lactuca cyprica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Lactuca
Species:
L. cyprica
Binomial name
Lactuca cyprica
(Rech.f.) N.Kilian & Greuter 2003
Synonyms[3]

Cephalorrhynchus cypricus Rech.f. 1951[2]

Habitat edit

In moist, shaded positions, by streams and moist hillsides among pines and riverine forest on igneous formations at 800–1950 m altitude.

Distribution edit

Endemic to Cyprus where it is confined to the Troödos Mountains where it in some areas is fairly common: Tripylos, Stavros Psokas, Kryos Potamos, Troödos Forest, Khionistra.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Kyratzis, A. (2011). "Lactuca cyprica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T172258A6859166. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T172258A6859166.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Lactuca cyprica (Rech.f.) N.Kilian & Greuter — The Plant List". theplantlist.org. Retrieved 2014-09-22.
  3. ^ The International Plant Names Index
  4. ^ The Endemic Plants of Cyprus, Texts: Takis Ch. Tsintides, Photographs: Laizos Kourtellarides, Cyprus Association of Professional Foresters, Bank of Cyprus Group, Nicosia 1998, ISBN 9963-42-067-2