There is a plant that is popping up in a variety of places that has taken me a while to identify. Now that I know that it is a Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola), this is a weed that I will remove as I find it. As the plant grows, the prickles get harder and more painful!
The plants that I have here are only a few inches tall, but supposedly they can grow up to 6 feet. There are fine spines along leaf edges and veins on the underside (see photo above), which is primarily how I am identifying them at this young stage. The stems and leaves emit a latex when cut.
Some time ago, I learned the difference between prickles, spines, and thorns. Here’s a reminder.
Rewilding My Lot 
Leave a comment