Lactuca serriola

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Compositae

Genus

Lactuca

Life cycle

biennial

Height

1.5 m

Spread

0.3 m

Fertility

self fertile

Flower type

hermaphrodite

Pollinators

Self

Uses

Edible uses

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

Young leaves - raw or cooked^[4][17][19]. A bitter flavour^[21]. The young tender leaves are mild and make an excellent salad^[7][12], but the whole plant becomes bitter as it gets older, especially when coming into flower[K]. As a potherb it needs very little cooking^[7]. Large quantities can cause digestive upsets^[19]. Young shoots - cooked. Used as an asparagus substitute^[4]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed^[16][18][2]. The oil must be refined before it is edible^[3]. A pleasant flavour^[3][7].

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^[15]. The sap contains 'lactucarium', which is used in medicine for its anodyne, antispasmodic, digestive, diuretic, hypnotic, narcotic and sedative properties^{[22][10][16][5][8][11][13]}. Lactucarium has the effects of a feeble opium, but without its tendency to cause digestive upsets^[15], 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^[13]. Concentrations of lactucarium are low in young plants and most concentrated when the plant comes into flower^[13]. 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^[15]. This species does not contain as much lactucarium as L. virosa^[15]. An infusion of the fresh or dried flowering plant can also be used^[22]. 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^[13] and overdoses can cause death through cardiac paralysis^[20][22]. The fixed oil from the seeds is said to possess antipyretic and hypnotic properties^[14]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant^[22]. It is used in the treatment of chronic catarrh, coughs, swollen liver, flatulence and ailments of the urinary tract^[22].

Material uses

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

The seed contains 35.2% of a semi-drying oil^[14]. It is used in soap making, paints, varnishes etc^[3].

Environment

Range

S. and C. Europe, incl Britain, from the Netherlands south and east to N. Africa and the Himalayas.

Habitat

Waste places, walls, occasionally on more or less stable dunes^[6].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

no shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 7+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

intolerant

Propagation

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

Cultivation

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

Prefers a light sandy loam in a sunny position^[1][4]. The wild lettuce is cultivated for the oil in its seed in Egypt^[16][18]. A compass plant, the top leaves align north-south^[9].

Related plants

• Lactuca biennisTall Blue Lettuce
• Lactuca canadensisCanada Lettuce
• Lactuca capensis
• Lactuca debilis

References

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

   ↩

2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

   ↩

3. Chakravarty. H. L. The Plant Wealth of Iraq.

   ↩1↩2↩3

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

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

   ↩

6. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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

   ↩1↩2↩3

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

   ↩

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

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

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

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12. Les Ecologistes de l'Euzi�re Les Salades Sauvages Not given. 1994-00-00 ISBN 2-906128-04-X

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

14. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

17. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00

    ↩

18. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

19. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

21. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5