Lactuca floridana is an annual or biennial plant in the Cichorieae (dandelion) tribe within the Asteraceae (daisy) family.

[4] The top of the stem bears a multibranched inflorescence with many flower heads.

[8] The genus name Lactuca is based on the Latin word for milk, "lac", and refers to the milky sap.

[9] L. floridana is native in the United States from Texas to the west, Florida to the south, Massachusetts to the east, and the Canadian border to the north.

[7] The plant blooms from July to October, and the nectar and pollen of the flowers attract bees.