Image: Bolted Lettuce Plant Producing Seeds

Available versions of this image

• Regular size (1,024 x 1,536): JPEG - WebP
• Large size (2,048 x 3,072): JPEG - WebP

Image description

This high-resolution landscape photograph captures a mature lettuce plant (Lactuca sativa) that has entered its bolting phase, prominently displaying its transition from leafy growth to seed production. The central focus of the image is the tall, upright flowering stalk that rises from the core of the plant, reaching skyward with a robust, pale green stem. This stem is segmented and slightly ribbed, branching into multiple slender offshoots that support clusters of small, pale yellow flowers and developing seed heads.

Each flower is daisy-like, with delicate, slightly curled petals surrounding a yellow-green disc. Some of the flowers have begun to fade, giving way to seed heads adorned with feathery white pappus structures, which aid in wind dispersal. These seed heads are brownish at the base, indicating maturity and readiness for release.

At the base of the plant, the original rosette of lettuce leaves remains visible but shows signs of aging. The leaves are large, crinkled, and irregularly shaped, with edges that curl and twist. Their coloration ranges from vibrant green to yellowish-green, with some leaves exhibiting brown spots, blemishes, and small holes—typical of a plant past its prime vegetative stage. The texture of the leaves is slightly leathery, and they overlap in a dense, layered pattern that contrasts with the verticality of the flowering stalk.

The surrounding soil is dark and rich, speckled with small stones and organic debris, suggesting a well-tended garden bed. The background features a lush, verdant garden filled with various leafy greens and vegetable plants, rendered in soft focus to emphasize depth and isolate the bolted lettuce as the primary subject.

Beyond the garden, a line of trees and foliage is visible, their forms blurred and softened by the shallow depth of field. The sky above is overcast, casting a diffuse, natural light across the scene. This lighting enhances the visibility of fine details in the plant’s structure, from the veins in the leaves to the texture of the seed heads.

The composition is balanced, with the bolted lettuce positioned slightly off-center to create visual interest. The image conveys a sense of seasonal transition and botanical life cycle, highlighting the moment when a common garden vegetable shifts from edible form to reproductive maturity.

The image is related to: A Guide to Growing Lettuce in Your Own Garden