Lactuca tetrantha, the Troödos lettuce, is an erect, lactiferous, perennial herb, 10–30 cm high. Leaves hairless, deeply dissected, the basal in rosette, oblong, 3-12 x 0.8-2.5 cm, often purplish-green, the upper alternate, smaller. Flowers in capitula, arranged in corymbs, florets 4, ligulate, yellow, reddish at the lower surface, flowers July–October, fruit a pappose achene.[1]
Habitat
Rocky hillsides and rock crevices on serpentinised rocks at 1500–1900 m altitude.
Distribution
Endemic to Cyprus where it is restricted to the higher parts of the Troödos Forest, mostly around Khionistra where it is not uncommon.
References
^The Endemic Plants of Cyprus, Texts: Takis Ch. Tsintides, Photographs: Laizos Kourtellarides, Cyprus Association of Professional Foresters, Bank of Cyprus Group, Nicosia 1998, ISBN9963-42-067-2
Cyprus Flora in Colour the Endemics, V. Pantelas, T. Papachristophorou, P. Christodoulou, July 1993, ISBN9963-7931-0-X
