Corralitas Public Staircase: Wire Lettuce

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 17, 2017.  In all the years of shooting photos of Wire Lettuce, I never managed to catch one just freshly opened. The stigmas are still curled.

Click here for our other Wire Lettuce photos.

The Corralitas Red Car Property Blog prefers to quote reliable sources, such as CalFlora and California Poison Control on the issue of toxicity.  We often get email suggesting some plants are edible. If you are eating your way through the Red Car Property, we DO NOT recommend you eat any plant you find in the Red Car Property neighborhood without first doing your own research. 

2 Freeway & Corralitas Dr: Native Wire Lettuce

Photo: Diane Edwardson, August 5, 2014.  Earlier this month, native Wire Lettuce (Stephanomeria pauciflora) started blooming throughout the neighborhood, primarily in dry, sunny, neglected vacant lots. It comes in shades of white & purple.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Click here for all our native plant related posts.

Corralitas Public Staircase: Wire Lettuce

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 6, 2013.  I think the early settlers of California tried to eat anything and called it "lettuce."  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Native Wire Lettuce, Stephanomeria pauciflora, doesn't look too appetizing, but does get pretty little flowers ranging from white to lavender in color.  It seems to like sunny slopes like the one adjacent to the Corralitas Public Staircase.

Click here for all our neighborhood native plants.  We've been documenting them for years.

Disclaimer: The Corralitas Red Car Property Blog prefers to quote reliable sources, such as CalFlora and California Poison Control on the issue of toxicity.  We often get email suggesting some plants are edible. If you are eating your way through the Red Car Property, we DO NOT recommend you eat any plant you find in the Red Car Property neighborhood without first doing your own research.

Corralitas Public Staircase: Native Wire Lettuce

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 10, 2011.  Even the common white Wire Lettuce has a tinge of purple to it.  Click on photo to enlarge.)

Click here for our neighborhood native plants.

Corralitas Public Staircase: Native Wire Lettuce

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 10, 2011.  Purple Wire Lettuce is less common than the white variety, and is currently blooming on the Corralitas Public Staircase.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Click here for all our neighborhood native plants. 

2 Freeway & Corralitas Drive: Wire Lettuce

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 13, 2010. Native Wire Lettuce is going to seed on Corralitas while it is still blooming. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Corralitas Public Staircase: More Native Wire Lettuce

Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 14, 2010. An unusually brightly colored patch of native Wire Lettuce is blooming across the street from the Wire Lettuce posted yesterday. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Click here to see our catalog of neighborhood native plants.

Corralitas Drive: Wire Lettuce

Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 13, 2010. Native Wire Lettuce (Stephanomeria pauciflora) is blooming all over the neighborhood right now. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Ready For Take-Off

Photo: Diane Edwardson, September 18, 2009. Corralitas public staircase, The 2 Freeway is below. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Tiny wildflower seeds are topped with filaments, allowing the seeds to fly like helicopters in the breeze. This plant appears to be native Wire Lettuce (Stephanomeria pauciflora).