Practical
Plants

Lactuca sativa angustana

Celtuce

an annual or biennial member of the Lactuca genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Lactuca
Life cycle
annual, biennial
Height
0.6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Flies, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The mature plant is mildly toxic[2].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked[17][7]. A mild, slightly sweet flavour, they are rather more coarse than ordinary lettuce[11], though they make an acceptable ingredient in mixed salads. Old leaves become coarser and bitter[11]. Stem - raw or cooked. Thick, tender, crisp and juicy, its flavour is variously described as being like lettuce, celery, artichoke, squash, asparagus or chard[17][7]. It is usually peeled before being used[7][11]. The stems can be harvested just before the plants flower without them turning bitter, though they might become hollow at this stage[11].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[18]. The sap contains 'lactucarium', which is used in medicine for its anodyne, antispasmodic, digestive, diuretic, hypnotic, narcotic and sedative properties[21][12][19][4][8][13][16]. Lactucarium has the effects of a feeble opium, but without its tendency to cause digestive upsets[18], nor is it addictive[20]. It is taken internally in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, neuroses, hyperactivity in children, dry coughs, whooping cough, rheumatic pain etc[16]. Concentrations of lactucarium are low in young plants and most concentrated when the plant comes into flower[16]. 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[18]. The cultivated lettuce does not contain as much lactucarium as the wild species, most being produced when the plant is in flower[18]. An infusion of the fresh or dried flowering plant can also be used[21]. 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[16] and overdoses can cause death through cardiac paralysis[20][21]. Some physicians believe that any effects of this medicine are caused by the mind of the patient rather than by the medicine[13]. The sap has also been applied externally in the treatment of warts[15]. The seed is anodyne and galactogogue[14]. Lettuce has acquired a folk reputation as an anaphrodisiac, anodyne, carminative, diuretic, emollient, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic, hypnotic, narcotic, parasiticide and sedative[14].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Emollient
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Parasiticide[5]. No further details are given, but it is probably the sap of flowering plants that is used. The seed is said to be used to make hair grow on scar tissue[14].

Product or use
Parasiticide

Environment

Range
Of garden origin, it is probably derived from L. serriola.
Habitat
Not known in the wild.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow March to June in situ[11]. Seedlings can be transplanted[11]. Seed becomes dormant at temperatures above 27°c[11].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a light sandy loam[1]. Succeeds in most well-drained, humus-rich soils but dislikes acid conditions[1][3]. Prefers some shade in the summer to slow down the plants tendency to go to seed and to prevent the leaves becoming bitter[6][9]. Plants can resist some frost, they can also tolerate temperatures in excess of 27°c[11]. They are fairly resistant to bolting, though they can run to seed prematurely in very hot conditions[11]. The celtuce is a form of lettuce with a longer and thicker central stem, it is sometimes cultivated for its edible leaves and stems[11]. There are some named varieties[7]. It takes 3 - 4 months from sowing before the stems are ready to harvest[11]. A surface-rooting plant, the roots can be damaged by hoeing[11]. A good companion for strawberries, carrots, radishes and onions[6][9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

  3. Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-050-0

    ↩

  4. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  5. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  6. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

    ↩

  9. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

  11. Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-4781-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12

  12. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  13. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2

  14. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩

  16. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  17. Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber 1960-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  18. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  19. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  20. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2

  21. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

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