{"url":"https://treescape.app/api/genera/lactuca/?format=json","slug":"lactuca","latin_name":"Lactuca","description":"Lactuca, commonly known as lettuce, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus includes at least 50 species, distributed worldwide, but mainly in temperate Eurasia.\nIts best-known representative is the garden lettuce (Lactuca sativa), with its many varieties. \"Wild lettuce\" commonly refers to the wild-growing relatives of common garden lettuce. Many species are common weeds. Lactuca species are diverse and take a wide variety of forms. They are annuals, biennials, perennials, or shrubs. Their flower heads have yellow, blue, or white ray florets. Some species are bitter-tasting.\nMost wild lettuces are xerophytes, adapted to dry habitat types. Some occur in more moist areas, such as the mountains of central Africa.","gbif_id":3140231,"image_thumbnail":"https://treescape.app/media/plant_species/images/thumbnails/lactuca_thumbnail_Ial98bp.jpg","image_large":"https://treescape.app/media/plant_species/images/large/lactuca_thumbnail_C1KB4ow.jpg"}