ðɛɹ ɪz ɪspˈɛʃəli hˈaɪ daɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi wɪðˌɪn ðə mˌɛdɪɾɪɹˈeɪniən ˈɛɹiə ænd saʊθwˈɛst ˈeɪʒə, bˌʌt ˈɛl. sˌɛɹɪˈoʊlə hɐz ɪstˈæblɪʃt pˌɑːpjʊlˈeɪʃənz ˌɔn ˈɔːl kˈɑːntɪnənts ænd hɐz ðə mˈoʊst wˈaɪdspɹɛd dˌɪstɹɪbjˈuːʃən kəmpˈɛɹd tʊ ˈʌðɚ lˈæktuːkə spˈiːsiːz.
There is especially high diversity within the Mediterranean area and Southwest Asia, but L. serriola has established populations on all continents and has the most widespread distribution compared to other Lactuca species.