Least Lettuce
Lactuca saligna
Lactuca saligna is a species of wild lettuce known by the common name willowleaf lettuce, and least lettuce. It is native to Eurasia but it grows in many other places as an introduced species, including much of North America.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactuca_saligna
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asterales
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Lactuca
Least Lettuce belongs to the family Asteraceae, order Asterales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Lactuca saligna is a species of wild lettuce known by the common name willowleaf lettuce, and least lettuce. It is native to Eurasia but it grows in many other places as an introduced species, including much of North America.
Least Lettuce (Lactuca saligna) faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development of its preferred wetland and coastal marsh environments. The species is particularly vulnerable to changes in water levels and salinity, making it highly susceptible to climate change impacts and coastal development pressures.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Least Lettuce (Lactuca saligna) faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development of its preferred wetland and coastal marsh environments. The species is particularly vulnerable to changes in water levels and salinity, making it highly susceptible to climate change impacts and coastal development pressures.
Altered hydrology and water management
Habitat loss from agricultural conversion
Urban and coastal development
Climate change and sea level rise
Invasive species competition
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
Report a sightingNo community sightings yet. Be the first to report!
Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Least Lettuce (Lactuca saligna). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/least-lettuce