Chicory is one of those plant that I see all over the place, but this has white flowers and the petal fringes look totally different, so I am not sure.
Looks a lot like chicory to me. A friend posted about white chicory flowers, back in '09. http://wiseacre-gardens.com/wordpress/white-chicory/ There do seem to be differences, on close comparison... as tipularia requested... any chance of seeing the plant?
This is one of the rare times I did not tear a leaf and check. Normally I do this to check for scent/sap/other odd characteristics, but this time I thought I just found a white Chicory plant so I did not bother.
Well, I was leaning toward Lactuca when I first saw it, but the sap would be help confirm / eliminate that. White-flowered chicory individuals do occur, though -- I suppose the next question is whether there were any blue-flowered chicory in the area.
and when you think you know a plant.... This plant was at the Cinciinnati Nature Center (Rowe Woods) which is quite large (larger than UBC) and I am not 100% sure exactly where I saw the plant- and we are not going back there this weekend. It seems like the only way to find out what this plant is for certain is to check the sap. Chicory grows all over the place around here and I must admit I have never looked very closely at the plant. Next time I see it I will examine it, just to become more familiar. I do like the Lactuca possibility. It does grow around here, but normally I see the yellow variety (I did not know there was a blue/white variety).
Not only. You should check for the pappus: Cichorium has a pappus of plumose bristles, whereas Lactuca has simple, slightly barbellate capillary bristles.
