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Plants will secrete a milky sap if bruised or cut. Flowers give way to flattened short-beaked achenes featuring white fluffy bristles (pappus). Each inflorescence is in the form of a loose panicle of 11-17 flowers (each to 1/2" across) featuring small, petal-like, pale blue (sometimes close to white) rays with no center disks. Leafy purplish stems to 7' tall rise from the basal clump in spring topped by large branching inflorescences of pale blue flowers (hence the common name of Florida blue lettuce) which bloom, only several at a time, from July to October. The upper leaf surface is medium green and either glabrous or sparsely hairy along the outer length of the central vein the lower leaf surface is light-medium green and either glabrous or sparsely hairy along the entire or outer length of the central vein.ĭeeply-lobed, pinnately veined, lanceolate to triangular, dandelion-like, basal leaves (to 3-10" long and 1-4" wide) have pointed tips, toothed margins and tapered bases. The leaves are sessile or nearly so, while their tips are tapered and acute. The middle to upper leaf blades have toothless margins the margins of all leaves are conspicuously ciliate. The lower leaf blades have relatively few dentate teeth along their outer margins, otherwise they are toothless. The leaf blades are usually ascending, rather than widely spreading they are elliptic, narrowly lanceolate, or narrowly oblanceolate in shape.
![brown flower helicoid cyme large seed pod brown flower helicoid cyme large seed pod](https://image.shutterstock.com/image-photo/purple-blooming-determinate-helicoid-cyme-260nw-2051304464.jpg)
These leaves become only slightly smaller in size as they ascend they are typically 2-3½" and ¼-½" across, although the leaves of very short plants and the uppermost leaves of other plants can be smaller than this. Alternate leaves occur along the entire length of this stem, where they are densely arranged and appear to be almost whorled. The stout central stem is light green and angular-terete it is covered with spreading white hairs. This plant is a summer annual that ranges in size from ½' to 7' tall it is unbranched, except for the flowering stems toward its apex. Numerous seeds are produced, which can remain viable for 5 years or more. This pollen is usually released during late summer or early fall. Each flower is about 1/8" long, the males producing a fine yellow pollen that is easily carried by the wind. The small flowers are initially green, but later turn yellowish green or brown as they mature and develop into achenes. Near the base of the central flowering spike, one or two small spikes may develop that are only half as long.
![brown flower helicoid cyme large seed pod brown flower helicoid cyme large seed pod](http://www.thedailygarden.us/uploads/4/5/4/9/45493619/carrot_2_orig.png)
Many of the upper stems terminate in one or more cylindrical spikes of flowers about 1-4" long. Mature leaves are relatively hairless, but small emergent leaves often have hairs on their undersides. They are deeply pinnatifid, broadly lanceolate (in outline), and usually much wider at the base than the tip. The leaves are up to 6" long and 4" across, and are opposite or alternate along the stems. The hairy stems are green to light pinkish red. This plant is a summer annual up to 3' tall that branches frequently. The seeds are large, tough-coated, and remain viable in the soil for several years. This typically occurs during late summer or early fall. The fine pollen of the male flowers is easily carried aloft by the wind. They occur in small drooping clusters less than ¼" across on short pedicels, and are densely arranged all around each spike. The small flowers are are yellowish green and devoid of petals and sepals. Many of the upper stems terminate in a cylindrical spike of flowers, about 3-6" long, with one or more smaller spikes near its base. The smaller leaves near the base of an inflorescence are lanceolate and often hairy underneath. The larger leaves are divided into 3 or 5 lobes, usually serrated along the margins, and have long petioles that are sometimes winged. The opposite leaves are up to 12" long and 8" across. The green stems are covered with white hairs. This plant is a summer annual that becomes 3-12' tall, branching occasionally.