Plant · GBIF taxon 3140574
mountain lettuce
Lactuca perennisAlso known as Blue Lettuce, Perennial Lettuce
Mountain lettuce produces vibrant violet-blue flower heads perched atop erect stems arising from deep taproots. Its deeply lobed blue-green foliage forms basal rosettes that thrive in dry sunny soils and rocky limestone habitats across southern and central Europe. The species flowers from May to August, attracting numerous bees and butterflies to its nectar-rich blooms.
PerennialWildflowerAlpine
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Wild Rabbits
- Roe Deer
- Slugs
ThreatsHabitat destruction, brush encroachment, intensive agricultural land use
HabitatsCalcareous grasslands, rocky slopes, scree, limestone cliffs
Life spanPerennial (several years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAsteraceae
- SpeciesLactuca perennis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Wild plants have toxic look-alikes; never consume wild foliage based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Spotting: Look for distinct violet-blue dandelion-like flower heads on sunny limestone slopes.
- Habitat: Search dry, rocky soils and calcareous grasslands during late spring and summer.
- Photography: Capture the deeply cut foliage alongside the bright sun-loving blooms.
Close Relative (c) George F Mayfield, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Cultivated Relative en:User:Geographer / CC BY 1.0 · cc-by
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