Lactuca tetrantha, the Troödos lettuce, is an erect, lactiferous, perennial herb, 10âÂÂ30 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 JulyâÂÂOctober, fruit a pappose achene.
Rocky hillsides and rock crevices on serpentinised rocks at 1500âÂÂ1900 m altitude.
Endemic to Cyprus where it is restricted to the higher parts of the Troödos Forest, mostly around Khionistra where it is not uncommon.