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Lactuca

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Lactuca

Lettuces
Genus:Lactuca
Family:Asteraceae
Type:Annuals, Perennials, Biennials
Weediness:Most species are weedy
Pollination:Insect

Lactuca, commonly known as lettuce, is a genus of flowering plants in the Sunflower family Asteraceae. The genus includes about 100 species, distributed worldwide, but mainly in temperate Eurasia.

Description

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Its best-known representative is the garden lettuce (Lactuca sativa), with its many varieties. But many are just common weeds. They are annuals or perennials. Their height can vary between 10–180 cm. They form heads or capitula in panicles of yellow, brown or purple flowers in ray florets.

The non-edible species may contain bitter elements. Others contain a milky juice.

Growing conditions

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Species

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The garden lettuce is grown as a salad green, other species occur as weeds.

Pests and Diseases

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Pests

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Aphids

Hoppers

Whiteflies

Bugs

Thrips

Flies

Beetles

Flea Beetles

Caterpillars

Slugs and Snails

Diseases

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Bottom Rot

Downy Mildew

Gray Mold

White Mold

Other Problems

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Calcium Deficiency

References

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  • Ann Fowler Rhoads and Timothy A. Block (2000). The Plants of Pennsylvania: An Illustrated Manual. Anna Anisko, illustrator. Morris Arboretum, University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 225–227. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Staff of the L. H. Bailey Hortorium (1976). Hortus Third: A Concise Dictionary of Plants Cultivated in the United States and Canada. Cornell University Press. p. 631. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Cranshaw, Whitney (2004). Garden Insects of North America: The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs. Princeton University Press. p. 602. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Pippa Greenwood, Andrew Halstead, A.R. Chase, Daniel Gilrein (2000). American Horticultural Society Pests & Diseases: The Complete Guide to Preventing, Identifying, and Treating Plant Problems (First Edition ed.). Dorling Kindersley (DK) Publishing, inc. p. 202. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)