Lapsana communis L.

Ghazanfar, S. A., Edmondson, J. R. & Hind, D. J. N. (Eds). (2019). Flora of Iraq, Volume 6: Compositae.Kew Publishing

Morphology General Habit

Annual, biennial or sometimes perennial herb, (10–)30–90(–125) cm tall, with slender branches from below or more commonly above middle, stem and branches glabrous or glandular, or densely white-pilose below

Morphology Leaves

Upper branches and pedicels slender, glabrous or glandular-hairy Basal leaves petiolate, ovate and dentate or more frequently lyrate-pinnatifid to lyrate-pinnate, very variable in size, both the large deltoid- ovate to ovate ± acute terminal lobe and the much smaller mostly 1–3 pairs of lateral lobes dentate, as is the wing along the rhachis in pinnatipartite leaves; lower and median cauline leaves similar and somewhat reduced and sessile, upper similar or lanceolate and dentate or entire; inflorescence leaves rapidly reducing and entire, above small and bract- like; all leaves thinly to more densely hairy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula usually numerous, in a corymbose panicle; involucre c. 3–10 mm wide; phyllaries glabrous or glandular, pale green, outermost few very short, ovate- lanceolate, inner linear-oblong, contracted to a rather blunt, sometimes shortly pilose apex, 5–10 mm long, erect after fruit-fall

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corollas c. 6–18 mm, rays 4–14 mm, tube pubescent; styles blackish-green to greenish-yellow

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes finely ribbed, usually slightly compressed, outer c. 3.5–4.5 mm, inner shorter.

Ecology

Rocky mountain slopes, valleys in the mountains, amongst Quercus, Juglans and Salix trees, usually near water; 700–2400+ m;

Phenology

flowering & fruiting: May-Sep.

Distribution

Frequent, locally abundant, in the mountain region of Iraq. Almost throughout Europe; Turkey, Lebanon, Caucasia, Iran, Pakistan, C Asia  (Tian Shan), E & W Siberia, Macaronesia (Canary Is., Madeira), N Africa (Libya to Morocco). Introduced in the Azores, Australasia, tropical Africa, N America, W Indies and probably elsewhere.

Use

Nipplewort (Eng.), so called as the plant was formerly used for treating ulcerated or sore breasts. It was also used as a salad herb.