Lactuca lasiorhiza (O. Hoffm.) C. Jeffrey

lasiorhiza: hairy root (Gk: lasio, hairy)

Stemless, pyrophytic perennial herb, less than 10 cm tall. Taproot semi-woody, densely crowned with long brownish hairs. Leaves in a basal rosette, appearing after the flowering time, 9-25 cm long, oblanceolate in outline, with large lobe-like teeth, more or less densely hairy, particularly on the midrib below. Capitula often numerous, densely grouped into a cushion-like inflorescence up to 10 cm in diameter, yellow; ligules sometimes purplish-red on the outside.

Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, CAR, DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe