Wild lettuce is native to Eurasia, but has naturalized throughout most of North America, and also Hawaii. Click. It flowers from July until September in the northern hemisphere. Wild Lettuce is also called bitter lettuce, laitue vireuse, opium lettuce, and rakutu-karyumu-so. WHERE DOES IT LIKE TO GROW? Prickly lettuce begins flowering in late spring to early summer. Flowers mature into small, fuzzy seed heads from which pappus-bearing seeds disperse. This plant can grow quite high allowing it to be easily spotted. [23] The possible combinations of these Dm genes can provide the plant with resistance to multiple strains of Bremia lactucae. Leaves mostly on stems, to 12 inches long, deeply lobed almost to midrib, toothed. We are not health professionals, medical doctors, nor are we nutritionists. It is used as a medicinal herb when dried after contact with air. It was introduced to the US from Europe and Asia and now grows wild in many areas of the US. A member of the lettuce family, wild lettuce grows wild in North America and England. To support our efforts please browse our store (books with medicinal info, etc.). It is up to the reader to verify nutritional information and health benefits with qualified professionals for all edible plants listed in this web site. Prickly lettuce is a medium to tall growing plant that reaches up to 80 inches in height if certain conditions are right. [23] These genes are mapped in four linkage groups, so the genes within each group will be more likely to be inherited together. Found throughout much of North America, prickly lettuce can grow in any type of soil. [14] While unsubstantial, its roots have been used as a coffee substitute. This plant has been used for hundreds of years as a mild substitute for opium by physicians when opium was unavailable. How to Grow Wild Lettuce. Some wild plants are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects. Blooms August-October. It prefers full sun and will tolerate partial shade—plant in moist, fertile, well-draining soil with a pH of around 7. The leaf shape is distinctive, with the indentation between lobes forming a "C" shape. Sponsored Links: ANNUAL: A common to abundant weed of disturbed soils at roadsides, in gardens, and along washes. The achenes are grey, tipped with bristles. Stalk: Wild lettuce is thicker than prickly lettuce. Prickly lettuce may grow as tall as 6 ½ feet. In Finland it perseveres as an established alien only in south-westernmost Finland around inhabited areas, but it appears to be becoming more common. Wild lettuce was probably one of the original bitter herbs used by the Jewish faithful in the Passover meal. Control young plants by [citation needed], Lactuca serriola contains lactucarium, which is the milky sap (white latex) that flows through the stem of the plant. RANGE: A cosmopolitan weed native to Eurasia and now found throughout North … Sow seed on moist, well-prepared soil or compost in spring. [26] This genetic diversity is considered a resource for lettuce breeding because it provides a greater variety of genes to be used in response to new strains of B. lactucae, which continually emerge. Please click here for more information. Prickly Lettuce. Although the leaves have prickles, they are not like a thistle that can cause a lot of discomfort. Many flowers are produced and usually appear … Stems are usually leafy and may bear a few prickles on the lower portion. As the plant matures it increases in bitterness, becoming inedible by the time it produces flowers. Since it is a tall growing plant, it means that prickly lettuce often shades out other plants and even some grasses. Young shoots can be cooked and used as an asparagus substitute. It is related to your garden lettuce, which is Lactuca Sativa. Broken stems and leaves bleed white latex sap. It is hardy to zone (UK) 7. Wild lettuce has leaves which aren’t as divided and spread out more. Cover with a very thin layer of compost or vermiculite. Thin seedlings out when they’re big enough to handle and keep the compost moist. The roots, stems and flowers produce a sticky, white-colored substance. Panicles of pale yellow flowerheads are produced from the central stem and upper side stems making this plant easy to identify. Wild lettuce belongs to the Lactuca, or lettuce, family of the plant kingdom. [12], Lactuca serriola can be eaten as a salad, although it has something of a bitter taste. [23], Testing for the presence of new resistance factors is conducted by screening samples of L. serriola with various isolates of B. Wild Lettuce (scientific nameLactuca virosa) is a tall, leafy plant with small bright yellow flowers.It looks similar to prickly lettuce (scientific name Lactuca serriola), with a few differences. lactucae. It is very similar in look and medicinal effects to Wild Lettuce, Lactuca virosa. Prickly Lettuce can be identified by the small prickles on the underside of the leaves, which are generally 2 times longer than they are wide. The bracts are also often tinged purple. Also, archaeobotanical evidence in Greek archaeological contexts is scanty, although uncarbonised seeds have been retrieved from a 7th-century BC deposit in a sanctuary of Hera on Samos. This plant varies considerably in size depending on growing conditions. The plant is sometimes called wild lettuce, China lettuce or compass plant because the leaves on the main stem are held vertically in a north-south plane, perpendicular to direct sunlight. How to grow lettuce. They emit latex when cut. Habitat. Range & Habitat: The native Wild Lettuce is a common plant that occurs in almost all counties of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Basal leaves are larger than stem leaves. The upper leaf surface is hairless, but there are prickles along the edge, and the midrib on the lower leaf surface is lined with sharp prickles. [24], Resistance to Bremia lactucae in Lactuca serriola is due to Dm genes, or single dominant genes. It did not take long before it made its way throughout most of Canada and over much of the U.S. The leaves and stems are less spiny, and grow closer together. Favorable Conditions for Weed Seed Production. Prickly Lettuce is an annual or biennial plant, slightly foetid, that is commonly considered a weed of orchards, roadsides and field crops. [16] The Navajo used the plant as a ceremonial emetic. Identification, health, Compositae. It is also known at the wild opium or compass plant. nutrition, recipes, history, uses & more! [3] It is the closest wild relative of cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). What does prickly lettuce look like? University of California @ Davis, Integrated Pest Management. Prickly lettuce grows along roads, railroads, sidewalks, vacant lots, waste areas, pastures, orchards, and cultivated fields. Prickly lettuce grows along roads, railroads, sidewalks, vacant lots, waste areas, pastures, orchards, and cultivated fields. Its basal leaves often twist and face the sun such that leaves point north and south, hence the origin for the common name 'compass plant'. All information, photographs and web content contained in this website is Copyright © EdibleWildFood.com 2020. Scientific Name. Leaves are alternate (1 leaf per node), 15 to 30cm (6 to 12”) long, coarse, and variable in size and shape. In the past, some have used this plant for both medical and culinary purposes. Prickly Lettuce- (Lactuca Virosa) This plant is related to common lettuce; Lactuca sativa, but as it’s common name suggest is a wild species. Prickly Lettuce, Lactuca Serriola L., a native to the Mediterranean region is. Thinning lettuce seedlings. Prickly lettuce belongs to the former group. Another common name is "compass plant", because the leaves on the main stem are held vertically in a north-south plane, perpendicular to direct sunlight. Species of wild lettuce fall into one of two large groups; those with yellow flowerheads versus those with light blue flowerheads. Flowering stems can reach heights anywhere from 60 cm to 2 metres tall (2 to 7'). Large quantities are known to cause digestive upsets. Stems are stiff, hollow, and filled with milky juice. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to September. Prickly lettuce is an erect biennial (rarely an annual) that is in the Asteraceae family. Growth is best in fertile loamy soil, although poor gravelly soil and clay-loam are also tolerated. Leaves: This is the best way to tell the difference between the plants. They like dry conditions, but can tolerate growing in moist areas. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). In-depth wild edible PDFs. Prickly Lettuce is a plant and crafting ingredient in Far Cry 5. Once the rosette leaves die off, the new leaves will bear the tell tale prickles. It is know… Leaf bases typically consist of ear-like lobes that clasp the stem. Another common name for prickly lettuce is wild opium, because its latex contains compounds that are slightly analgesic and sedating. Flowerheads with up to 17 florets per head. Wild Lettuce is native to the Mediterranean region and prefers light, well-drained soils in an open, sunny position. Photographed along Mesquite Wash, Maricopa Co., Arizona. Sow in spring or autumn as you would lettuce. Originally from Europe and Asia, prickly lettuce is estimated to have arrived to North American shores around 1860. In Illinois, this plant prefers highly disturbed areas and it doesn't invade high quality natural areas to any significant degree. The plant prefers dry conditions, although it tolerates and can often be found growing on moist ground such as that in low areas or irrigated fields. There are no disk flowers. They emit latex when cut. Prickles are generally absent from upper stem leaves, which are small, lance shaped, and lack lobes. This one, Prickly Lettuce, grows as a single stem. [23] Samples of L. serriola can be found around the world with genetic diversity between populations regarding the Dm genes. 10: 1–726. You can pick this plant in the wilds. In A. L. Cabrera (ed.) Location: Click, All listed plants are found in central-east Canada and [17] In the island of Crete in Greece the leaves and the tender shoots of a variety called maroula (μαρούλα) or agriomaroulo (αγριομάρουλο) are eaten boiled. This … COMMON NAMES: Bitter Lettuce, Wild Lettuce, Green Endive, Lettuce Opium, Laitue Vireuse (French), Latuga Velenosa (Italian), Prickly Lettuce Ray flowers light blue to nearly white, opening a few at a time. The flower heads are 1–1.5 cm (1⁄2–1⁄2 in) wide,[10] pale yellow, often tinged purple, with 12–20 ray flowers but no disc flowers. Prickly lettuce … In 430 BC (2447 years ago) Hippocrates, known as the Father of Modern Medicine, wrote about the pain-relieving effects of the plant’s milky sap.By the 1800s, it had reached America. Similar to Mycelis muralis but showing more than 5 florets. A biennial plant, growing to 1.5m x 1.0m. In North America, it has been documented as introduced in California , Alabama , Iowa , and Washington, DC , and grows wild in other parts of the continent. [23][26] 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. Range & Habitat: The adventive Prickly Lettuce is a common plant that occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). Prickly lettuce grows most abundantly on nutrient-rich soils. It is the closest wild relative of cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). )Greater prickly lettuce is less widespread. [4], Lactuca serriola is native to Europe, Asia, and north Africa, and has become naturalized elsewhere. Unopened flower heads resemble a tight green teardrop. [23] Lactuca serriola and B. lactucae have a gene-for-gene relationship,[25] meaning that each resistance gene in the plant is associated with a specific gene in the pathogen, with avirulence being dominant to virulence. Prickly lettuce commonly grows in waste areas, gardens, irrigated crops, along road sides, and is a prolific colonizer of disturbed habitats. Habitats include abandoned fields, fence rows, areas along railroads and roadsides, vacant lots, dumps, and miscellaneous waste areas. The plant pictured above is Lactuca virosa. EdibleWildFood.com is informational in nature. HOW DOES IT SPREAD? Water the soil thoroughly before … Prickly lettuce grows most abundantly on nutrient-rich soils. You can pick loose-leaf lettuce varieties from six weeks, at 10 weeks for hearting types. photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden, collected in North Dakota in 2014, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lactuca_serriola&oldid=999065590, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 8 January 2021, at 09:26. Lactuca serriola, also called prickly lettuce,[2] milk thistle[2] (not to be confused with Silybum marianum, also called milk thistle), compass plant,[2] and scarole,[2] is an annual or biennial plant in the dandelion tribe within the daisy family. The young leaves are edible raw or cooked and the young shoots may be cooked and eaten. Leaves located on the lower part of the stem may be deeply or irregularly lobed. Although the standard definition of lactucarium requires its production from Lactuca virosa, it was recognized that smaller quantities of lactucarium could be produced in a similar way from Lactuca sativa and Lactuca canadensis var. Characteristics. It is a winter annual, which means seeds germinate in late summer or early fall and grow to bloom next year. It is native to Eurasia. [15], Its presence in some ancient deposits has been linked more to its soporific properties which might suggest ritual use. Seedlings of this hardy annual appear in damp soil in spring and summer. Opened flower heads are less than 1cm (1/2”) wide and consist of 5 to 12 yellow ray flowers. The closest wild relative of cultivated lettuce, it grows throughout the temperate regions of all major continents. Prickly Wild Lettuce, Wild Lettuce, Opium Lettuce. Using compost or a mixture of black earth and peat moss is excellent for the garden bed. The leaves, when young, can be eaten cooked and eaten raw. Mature plants grow 3 to 5 feet tall, and produce small, yellow flowers. How to sow lettuce seed. Drought and frost tender. They are oblong or lanceolate, often pinnately lobed and (especially for the lower leaves), waxy grey green. Flora de la provincia de Jujuy. Hedgerow Type. protect from slugs and snails. The undersides have whitish veins. The roots, stems and flowers produce a sticky, milky looking substance. The flowers produced in late spring to early summer are yellow in color and approximately one third of an inch in diameter. The plant blooms from July until well into autumn. [18] It is used by a growing number of Jews and the Samaritans as the Maror (bitter herb) on Pesach. Also, it is suspected that the high levels in nitrates in Lactuca Spp are responsible for kidney failure in young ducks. This is one of the most common types of wild lettuce to find and is a native plant. Lactuca serriola, also called prickly lettuce, milk thistle (not to be confused with Silybum marianum, also called milk thistle), compass plant, and scarole, is an annual or biennial plant in the dandelion tribe within the daisy family. The stem surface is covered with a waxy coat giving it a whitish cast and it is sometimes flecked with red. [13] Older leaves can be steamed. It is also found in the Punjab Region of Pakistan India and Australia where it grows in the wild. [19][20][21], The Egyptian god Min is associated with this species of lettuce. The species grows commonly on stony ground and in dry parts of southern Europe, where avoiding the direct glare of the sun is an obvious advantage. [22], Lactuca serriola is the wild progenitor of cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa), and can be affected by lettuce downy mildew, one of the most serious diseases of lettuce. Wild food can help treat various medical conditions. Leaves are deeply lobed, and clasp the base of the stem. Wild lettuce (also known as Lactuca Virosa) is a plant where the leaves, sap, and seed are used to make medicine.This medicinal lettuce has been widely used since ancient Greece. [23] L. serriola has shown resistance to the plant pathogen Bremia lactucae, the cause of the disease. The woody stems of this plant are hollow, and form in the middle of a basal rosette of leaves. The flowers are composite, and like many other wildflowers, they look a little like dandelions. It can grow to over 7 feet tall. Prickly lettuce is a winter annual weed often found in no-till soybeans and winter wheat, or along field edges. Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Prickly lettuce may grow as tall as 6 to 6 ½ feet. It can cause pulmonary emphysema in cattle feeding exclusively on the plant. Prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola) can be a summer annual or biennial. At first, it just has those alternating leaves, plain and green, and then quite quickly it sprouts a many-branched flower-head. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Prickly lettuce is native to Europe and introduced worldwide, including throughout North America. The leaves get progressively smaller as they reach its top. Check out these comparison pictures of lactuca virosa (wild lettuce) vs. lactuca serriola (prickly lettuce). It is often found growing on roadsides, wood edges or on disturbed soil. [24] Nine of the dominant genes that confer resistance are Dml, Dm, Dm3, Dm6, Dml4, Dml5, DmlO, Dm5/8, Dm10, Dm4, Dm7, Dm11, and Dm13. The white, milky sap contains a small amount of the opiate-type chemical … [26], Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae, Cabrera, A. L. 1978. Growing thick and upright in diverse places such as sidewalk cracks to the woods, Prickly Lettuce is a fine salad green, though still somewhat bitter. Then open the weapon wheel and hold / to craft “Ultimate Survivor” (Reduces considerably the damage you take). (See maps below from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Plants Database. Plants growing to nearly 2 m tall are not uncommon. Here’s how to spot the difference: Height: Wild lettuce grows taller than prickly lettuce. A very common plant that will grow almost anywhere where it get lots of sun and little competition from other plants. The Ancient Greeks also believed its pungent juice to be a remedy against eye ulcers and Pythagoreans called the lettuce eunuch because it caused urination and relaxed sexual desire. Lactuca serriola is known as the compass plant because in the sun the upper leaves twist round to hold their margins upright. Lactuca serriola. WHEN DOES IT BLOOM? Many small flower heads, each borne singly at the end of a short branch, are grouped in open terminal clusters. Leaves are also oriented at an angle to the stem, with spines on the midrib and base of the leaf. Use sterilized potting soil to start your seeds. The spines of this plant are fairly soft and edible raw when the leaves are young. It has a slightly fetid odor and is commonly considered a weed of orchards, roadsides and field crops. It is also described by Theophrastus. It can be … While we strive to be 100% accurate, it is solely up to the reader to ensure proper plant identification. [2][5][6][7][8][9], Lactuca serriola has a spineless reddish stem, containing a milky latex, growing up to 2 metres (6 ft 7 in).[10]. Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Florida lettuce, or woodland lettuce, is an annual or biennial with open, branched clusters of bluish flowers. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Buenos Aires, CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, oblong or lanceolate, often pinnately lobed, "King's American Dispensary:Tinctura Lactucarii (U. S. P.)—Tincture of Lactucarium", "King's American Dispensary:Lactuca.—Lettuce", Tinctura Lactucarii (U. S. P.)—Tincture of Lactucarium, Prickly Lettuce on Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide. It is used for crafting Homeopathics (Ultimate Survivor) in the utility wheel. Prickly lettuce Fine spines are present along the veins and leaf edges. In mythology, Aphrodite is said to have laid Adonis in a lettuce bed, leading to the vegetable's association with food for the dead. Prickly lettuce differs from Lactuca canadensis (tall or Canada lettuce) by its blue-green foliage and the prickles on the undersides of its leaves. It has a slightly fetid odor and is commonly considered a weed of orchards, roadsides and field crops. The plant prefers dry conditions, although it tolerates and can often be found growing on moist ground such as that in low areas or irrigated fields. Prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola) seeds travel with the help of their downy, white plumes. Only about a third of the flower heads open at a time. elongata, and even that lettuce-opium obtained from Lactuca serriola or Lactuca quercina was of superior quality. [23] This pathogen is able to undergo sexual reproduction, and once virulent strains have been produced, can undergo rapid asexual reproductive cycles. The leaves grow along a spiny stem and get progressively smaller as they reach its top. Aug. 1, 2009. Lactuca serriola is a BIENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in). The pappus is white with equal length hairs.[5][11]. Common Names. The young tender leaves are mild and make an excellent salad, but the whole plant becomes bitter as it gets older, especially when it flowers. Wild lettuce can be moderately difficult to germinate and will require some extra steps to ensure germination. The prickles on the leaves are somewhat soft and incapable of cutting skin. (Figure 1) The French common name for prickly lettuce is "laitue scariole", which derives from its scientific name, Lactuca serriola or La… It is highly adviseable to eat only smalll quantities. Grows upright with few branches below. The leaves of prickly lettuce that grows in the shade do not align themselves like that. Lactuca serriola. It is somewhat weedy. Wild lettuce weeds are native to the Mediterranean and are also referred to as prickly lettuce, China lettuce, horse or milk thistle, wild opium and compass plant in relation to the north-south vertical placement of its leaves – perpendicular to direct sunlight. north-east United States (zones 4-7), but do grow elsewhere. It is sometimes referred to as "wild lettuce", because it is closely related to, and inter-fertile with, cultivated lettuce. [24] As a result, there are many strains, which vary in virulence. The plant is self-fertile. 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Leaves mostly on stems, to 12 yellow ray flowers light blue flowerheads plant.! In the sun the upper leaves twist round to hold their margins upright or irregularly lobed: (... To find and is commonly considered a weed of disturbed soils at roadsides wood! It produces flowers growing conditions extra steps to ensure germination is in the Punjab region of Pakistan and! To 12 yellow ray flowers light blue flowerheads, the new leaves will bear the tell tale prickles and of! Major continents, and clasp the base of the flower heads are less spiny, and fields. The stem north-east United States ( zones 4-7 ), waxy grey....