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Lactuca serriola - L.

Common Name Prickly Lettuce
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards The mature plant is mildly toxic[13].
Habitats Waste places, walls, occasionally on more or less stable dunes[17].
Range S. and C. Europe, incl Britain, from the Netherlands south and east to N. Africa and the Himalayas.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Lactuca serriola Prickly Lettuce


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lactuca_serriola_Sturm45.jpg
Lactuca serriola Prickly Lettuce
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilisateur:Jeantosti

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Lactuca serriola is a BIENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

L. scariola.

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds; East Wall. In. South Wall. In. West Wall. In.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Oil  Oil  Shoots
Edible Uses: Oil  Oil

Young leaves - raw or cooked[13, 55, 62]. A bitter flavour[85]. The young tender leaves are mild and make an excellent salad[183, 217], but the whole plant becomes bitter as it gets older, especially when coming into flower[K]. As a potherb it needs very little cooking[183]. Large quantities can cause digestive upsets[62]. Young shoots - cooked. Used as an asparagus substitute[13]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[46, 61, 105]. The oil must be refined before it is edible[114]. A pleasant flavour[114, 183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anodyne  Antipyretic  Diuretic  Homeopathy  Hypnotic  Narcotic  Sedative  Urinary


The whole plant is rich in a milky sap that flows freely from any wounds. This hardens and dries when in contact with the air[4]. The sap contains 'lactucarium', which is used in medicine for its anodyne, antispasmodic, digestive, diuretic, hypnotic, narcotic and sedative properties[9, 21, 46, 165, 192, 213, 238]. Lactucarium has the effects of a feeble opium, but without its tendency to cause digestive upsets[4], nor is it addictive[7]. It is taken internally in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, neuroses, hyperactivity in children, dry coughs, whooping cough, rheumatic pain etc[238]. Concentrations of lactucarium are low in young plants and most concentrated when the plant comes into flower[238]. It is collected commercially by cutting the heads of the plants and scraping the juice into china vessels several times a day until the plant is exhausted[4]. This species does not contain as much lactucarium as L. virosa[4]. An infusion of the fresh or dried flowering plant can also be used[9]. The plant should be used with caution, and never without the supervision of a skilled practitioner. Even normal doses can cause drowsiness whilst excess causes restlessness[238] and overdoses can cause death through cardiac paralysis[7, 9]. The fixed oil from the seeds is said to possess antipyretic and hypnotic properties[240]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[9]. It is used in the treatment of chronic catarrh, coughs, swollen liver, flatulence and ailments of the urinary tract[9].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Oil  Oil

The seed contains 35.2% of a semi-drying oil[240]. It is used in soap making, paints, varnishes etc[114].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a light sandy loam in a sunny position[1, 13]. The wild lettuce is cultivated for the oil in its seed in Egypt[46, 61]. A compass plant, the top leaves align north-south[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ and only just cover the seed. Germination is usually fairly quick.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Lactuca biennisTall Blue Lettuce 0.0 -  LMHSNM01 
Lactuca canadensisCanada LettuceBiennial3.0 -  LMSNM23 
Lactuca capensis Perennial0.5 -  LMSNM12 
Lactuca debilis Perennial0.0 -  LMSNM32 
Lactuca formosana  0.0 -  LMSNM12 
Lactuca indicaIndian LettucePerennial1.2 -  LMSNM32 
Lactuca indica dracoglossa Annual/Biennial1.0 -  LMSNM22 
Lactuca indica laciniata Perennial1.2 -  LMSNM32 
Lactuca ludovicianaWestern Wild Lettuce, Biannual lettuceBiennial1.2 0-0  LMSNM22 
Lactuca perennisPerennial LettucePerennial0.6 5-9  LMNDM32 
Lactuca pulchellaBlue LettucePerennial1.0 -  LMSNM22 
Lactuca quercinaWild LettuceAnnual/Biennial1.0 -  LMSNM23 
Lactuca raddeana Annual/Biennial0.6 -  LMSNM22 
Lactuca sativaLettuce, Garden lettuceAnnual/Biennial0.9 5-9  LMSNM331
Lactuca sativa angustanaCeltuceAnnual/Biennial0.6 5-9  LMSNM332
Lactuca sativa capitataCabbage LettuceAnnual/Biennial0.9 5-9  LMSNM332
Lactuca sativa crispaCutting LettuceAnnual/Biennial0.9 5-9  LMSNM332
Lactuca sativa longifoliaCos LettuceAnnual/Biennial0.9 5-9  LMSNM332
Lactuca sibiricaPrickly lettucePerennial1.0 0-0  LMSNM22 
Lactuca triangulata Biennial/Perennial1.0 -  LMSNM12 
Lactuca virosaWild Lettuce, Bitter lettuceAnnual/Biennial1.8 5-9  LMNM13 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Thu Dec 30 07:23:19 2004

This plant is found in Malta/Mediterranean basin/Europe

More comprehensive details, medicinal properties, uses, botanical data, plant description and photogallery of high resolutions photos of this plant can be seen on an interesting website about the wild plants of Malta: www.maltawildplants.com

Link: Malta Wild Plants Website and photography by Stephen Mifsud, Malta.

Rajshekhar S Babnoor   Wed Nov 23 2005

dear sir/madam, respected sir/madam please send regarding seed germination,seed cultivation,seed darmancy, seed harvest, seed sowing, seed treatment of lactuca scariola. i kindly request you please send these materials. with full length paper or review of literature or articles of "lactuca scariola".

rajshekhar s babanoor   Sat Mar 3 2007

it gives good information about the plant send us seed germination, cultivation , seed darmancy breaking methods , seed harvest, seed sowing, seed treatment of lactuca scariola.

Ken Fern, Plants for a Future   Sun Mar 4 2007

Further information about the seeds can be obtained from the Seed Information Database at Kew. http://www.kew.org/data/sid/

José Waizel-Bucay   Fri Jan 9 2009

Synonyms?: Lactuca virosa L.; Lactuca sinuata Forssk.

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