Lapsana communis L.

Annual herb. Stems erect, branched above, finely ribbed, with fine crisped eglandular hairs especially below, 15–100–(150) cm tall. Lvs glabrous or sparsely to densely hairy; margins ciliate. Rosette and lower stem lvs petiolate, lyrate-pinnatifid; terminal lobe large, broadly ovate to deltoid to orbicular, bluntly dentate, (1.5)–3–8 × (1.5)–3–8 cm; lateral lobes in (0)–1–3 pairs, the distal pair = or < width of terminal lobe, the proximal pairs successively smaller, all dentate. Upper lvs undivided, becoming sessile, linear-lanceolate to ovate, sharply dentate to serrate, smaller than lower lvs. Capitula in diffuse corymbose panicles; peduncles > 2× length of involucre. Involucre 5–8 mm long; bracts glabrous except for ciliate apex, strongly veined or keeled, erecto-patent; outer bracts 1–1.5 mm long. Florets few, c. 1.5× length of involucre; corolla yellow; tube < ligule. Achenes fusiform, glabrous, pale, c. 20-ribbed, 3–5 mm long; pappus 0.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: (Aug.)–Dec.–Mar.–(Jul.); Fruiting: (Aug.)–Dec.–Mar.–(Jul.)