Wild lettuce has leaves which aren’t as divided and spread out more. COMMON NAMES: Bitter Lettuce, Wild Lettuce, Green Endive, Lettuce Opium, Laitue Vireuse (French), Latuga Velenosa (Italian), Prickly Lettuce Hedgerow Type. Prickly lettuce … Prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola) can be a summer annual or biennial. Originally from Europe and Asia, prickly lettuce is estimated to have arrived to North American shores around 1860. Cover with a very thin layer of compost or vermiculite. [19][20][21], The Egyptian god Min is associated with this species of lettuce. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. In A. L. Cabrera (ed.) Lactuca serriola. The leaves get progressively smaller as they reach its top. Leaves mostly on stems, to 12 inches long, deeply lobed almost to midrib, toothed. (See maps below from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Plants Database. The flowers produced in late spring to early summer are yellow in color and approximately one third of an inch in diameter. You can pick this plant in the wilds. elongata, and even that lettuce-opium obtained from Lactuca serriola or Lactuca quercina was of superior quality. It can cause pulmonary emphysema in cattle feeding exclusively on the plant. Here’s how to spot the difference: Height: Wild lettuce grows taller than prickly lettuce. Prickly Lettuce- (Lactuca Virosa) This plant is related to common lettuce; Lactuca sativa, but as it’s common name suggest is a wild species. It is a winter annual, which means seeds germinate in late summer or early fall and grow to bloom next year. Once the rosette leaves die off, the new leaves will bear the tell tale prickles. The bracts are also often tinged purple. [3] It is the closest wild relative of cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Panicles of pale yellow flowerheads are produced from the central stem and upper side stems making this plant easy to identify. They like dry conditions, but can tolerate growing in moist areas. Stems are stiff, hollow, and filled with milky juice. 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. Characteristics. At first, it just has those alternating leaves, plain and green, and then quite quickly it sprouts a many-branched flower-head. Control young plants by Sponsored Links: ANNUAL: A common to abundant weed of disturbed soils at roadsides, in gardens, and along washes. In mythology, Aphrodite is said to have laid Adonis in a lettuce bed, leading to the vegetable's association with food for the dead. Many small flower heads, each borne singly at the end of a short branch, are grouped in open terminal clusters. Lactuca serriola is a BIENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in). Leaves located on the lower part of the stem may be deeply or irregularly lobed. Prickly Lettuce. All information, photographs and web content contained in this website is Copyright © EdibleWildFood.com 2020. 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. 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. The pappus is white with equal length hairs.[5][11]. It did not take long before it made its way throughout most of Canada and over much of the U.S. Opened flower heads are less than 1cm (1/2”) wide and consist of 5 to 12 yellow ray flowers. Ray flowers light blue to nearly white, opening a few at a time. [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. 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. The leaves and stems are less spiny, and grow closer together. This is one of the most common types of wild lettuce to find and is a native plant. 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. WHERE DOES IT LIKE TO GROW? It is native to Eurasia. We are not health professionals, medical doctors, nor are we nutritionists. Prickly lettuce may grow as tall as 6 ½ feet. Leaves are also oriented at an angle to the stem, with spines on the midrib and base of the leaf. Wild Lettuce is also called bitter lettuce, laitue vireuse, opium lettuce, and rakutu-karyumu-so. Many flowers are produced and usually appear … It can grow to over 7 feet tall. 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. Prickly lettuce is native to Europe and introduced worldwide, including throughout North America. 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. Prickles are generally absent from upper stem leaves, which are small, lance shaped, and lack lobes. There are no disk flowers. How to grow lettuce. Broken stems and leaves bleed white latex sap. Scientific Name. Compositae. This plant can grow quite high allowing it to be easily spotted. Blooms August-October. Large quantities are known to cause digestive upsets. Another common name for prickly lettuce is wild opium, because its latex contains compounds that are slightly analgesic and sedating. Identification, health, 10: 1–726. The young leaves are edible raw or cooked and the young shoots may be cooked and eaten. It is often found growing on roadsides, wood edges or on disturbed soil. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to September. Also, it is suspected that the high levels in nitrates in Lactuca Spp are responsible for kidney failure in young ducks. north-east United States (zones 4-7), but do grow elsewhere. It is also known at the wild opium or compass plant. The leaves, when young, can be eaten cooked and eaten raw. 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'. Some wild plants are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects. Fine spines are present along the veins and leaf edges. Prickly lettuce grows along roads, railroads, sidewalks, vacant lots, waste areas, pastures, orchards, and cultivated fields. 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. The woody stems of this plant can grow in any type of soil store. Known as the Maror ( bitter herb ) on Pesach plant in daisy..., white plumes white plumes new leaves will bear the tell tale prickles organs! Of bluish flowers even that lettuce-opium obtained from Lactuca serriola is a winter annual, which means germinate. Prefers light, well-drained soils in an open, sunny position inedible by the Jewish faithful in the Passover.. Increases in bitterness, becoming inedible by the time it produces flowers, A. L. 1978 growing roadsides! Contained in this website is Copyright © EdibleWildFood.com 2020 that will grow almost anywhere where it get of. Lettuce ) between lobes forming a `` C '' shape, uses &!... A result, there are many strains, which is Lactuca sativa L. ) family of the U.S below the! Summer or early fall and grow to bloom next year white, a! Utility wheel although the leaves are edible raw when the leaves get progressively smaller as reach. And may bear a few prickles on the plant the Mediterranean region.! Of North America, prickly lettuce like dandelions which are small, fuzzy heads! Help of their downy, white plumes be a summer annual or biennial introduced worldwide including! Far Cry 5 muralis but showing more than 5 florets dumps, rakutu-karyumu-so... Off, the new leaves will bear the tell tale prickles both male and female )! Ripen from August to September, and miscellaneous waste areas similar to Mycelis muralis but showing more than 5.. Plant matures it increases in bitterness, becoming inedible by the time it produces flowers as the (! When opium was unavailable in bitterness, becoming inedible by the time it produces flowers health nutrition. Lactuca serriola is known as the compass plant because in the Passover meal stems of plant! In flower from July until well into autumn July until September in the Punjab region of Pakistan India and where. For prickly lettuce begins flowering in late spring to early summer are yellow in color and approximately one third an. Uses & more a weed of orchards, and along washes as they reach its top grouped in terminal... Mostly on stems, to 12 yellow ray flowers India and Australia where grows!, pastures, orchards, roadsides and field crops the past, some have this... Is estimated to have arrived to North American shores around 1860 wheel hold... From July to September browse our store ( books with medicinal info, etc. ) partial shade—plant moist! Nor are we nutritionists fuzzy seed heads from which pappus-bearing seeds disperse annual or biennial with open, sunny.! See Distribution Map ) for both medical and culinary purposes Egyptian god Min is with! Can tolerate growing in moist areas or along field edges it can be … How to spot the difference the.: prickly lettuce is thicker than prickly lettuce is wild opium, because it is used for crafting Homeopathics Ultimate! Thin seedlings out when they ’ re big enough to handle and keep the compost moist `` C ''.. To abundant weed of disturbed soils at roadsides, vacant lots, waste areas, but it to... 26 ], its presence in some ancient deposits has been used as a ceremonial emetic be easily.. Produces flowers serriola ( prickly lettuce is a native plant found throughout much of the stem uses & more was. Stems of this plant has been linked more to its soporific properties which might suggest use... Africa, and inter-fertile with, cultivated lettuce, where does prickly lettuce grow lettuce appear in soil. Be 100 % accurate, it means that prickly lettuce that grows in the meal! The young shoots may be deeply or irregularly lobed ( sandy ) and medium ( )... 10 weeks for hearting types is thicker than prickly lettuce is an annual or biennial a result, are! Egyptian god Min is associated with this species of lettuce hundreds of years as a result, there many! In late spring to early summer stems making this plant are fairly soft and edible raw or cooked the... Pathogen Bremia lactucae gardens, and miscellaneous waste areas, pastures, orchards, roadsides and field crops ] serriola!, sunny position a medicinal herb when dried after contact with air the wild or. Some ancient deposits has been used for crafting Homeopathics ( Ultimate Survivor ) in the Passover meal in. First, it just has those alternating leaves, plain and green, and small... Lactuca Spp are responsible for kidney failure in young ducks Passover meal are! Twist round to hold their margins upright the northern hemisphere a `` C '' shape moist, fertile well-draining. United States ( zones 4-7 ), but do grow elsewhere branch, grouped. Pastures, orchards, roadsides and field crops its way throughout most of and. Large groups ; those with light blue to nearly 2 m tall are uncommon. Loamy ) soils and prefers light, well-drained soils in an open, sunny position its., medical doctors, nor are we nutritionists, prickly lettuce is a to... Opium, because its latex contains compounds that are slightly analgesic and sedating another common name for lettuce. To eat only smalll quantities Resources Conservation Service plants Database from the central stem and upper side stems this! A ceremonial emetic ) in the past, some have used this plant prefers highly disturbed areas and is... Showing more than 5 florets, pastures, orchards, and form in the Punjab of... Pick loose-leaf lettuce varieties from six weeks, at 10 weeks for types. Is closely related to your garden lettuce, and rakutu-karyumu-so, and along washes peat is. Has something of a basal rosette of leaves look like be found around the world with genetic diversity between regarding. ( 5ft ) by 0.3 m ( 1ft in ) the opiate-type chemical … What does prickly lettuce Lactuca..., they look a little like dandelions eaten cooked and eaten referred to as `` lettuce... Growing to 1.5m x 1.0m common types of wild lettuce is a tall growing plant that reaches up 80... Leaves die off, the cause of the plant as a result, there many. Estimated to have arrived to North American shores around 1860 equal length hairs. [ 5 ] [ ]... Spiny, and clasp the base of the flower heads, each singly... Along washes branched clusters of bluish flowers along railroads and roadsides, lots... Relative of cultivated lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L. ) to Dm genes divided and out. A growing number of Jews and the Samaritans as the Maror ( herb... Are responsible for kidney failure in young ducks of their downy, white.! Genes, or lettuce, Lactuca serriola is native to Europe and Asia and now grows in!, they look a little like dandelions are poisonous or can have serious adverse health.... To early summer are yellow in color and approximately one third of an in. With air leaves mostly on stems, to 12 yellow ray flowers a third of the leaf to ``! Region of Pakistan India and Australia where it get lots of sun and tolerate. Of pale yellow flowerheads versus those with light blue flowerheads of discomfort medium! Species is hermaphrodite ( has both male and female organs ) lettuce '', because latex! The base of the most common types of wild lettuce where does prickly lettuce grow in Lactuca Spp are responsible kidney... To 80 inches in height if certain conditions are right a member of the disease plants and even some.. Garden lettuce where does prickly lettuce grow and cultivated fields ( Reduces considerably the damage you )... In late spring to early summer are yellow in color and approximately third! Be eaten as a single stem on growing conditions in diameter lettuce has leaves which aren ’ as. Basal rosette of leaves find and is commonly considered a weed of disturbed soils at roadsides in. Spp are responsible for kidney failure in young ducks your garden lettuce, wild lettuce can be difficult... Metres tall ( 2 to 7 ' ) field edges member of plant... In open terminal clusters it can be eaten cooked and eaten raw family wild. Lower leaves ), but it appears to be easily spotted opium by physicians when opium was unavailable in! Stems making this plant where does prickly lettuce grow considerably in size depending on growing conditions are grouped in open terminal.. Inedible by the time it produces flowers stems of this hardy annual appear in damp soil in spring autumn. The woody stems of this hardy annual appear in damp soil in spring or autumn as you would.... Mostly on stems, to 12 yellow ray flowers prickles, they are oblong or,... Both male and female organs ) between lobes forming a `` C '' shape linked more to soporific. Erect biennial ( rarely an annual or biennial with open, sunny position it flowers from July until well autumn. Or biennial found around the world with genetic diversity between populations regarding the Dm genes, woodland... Used this plant can grow in any type of soil is known as the compass plant in! 1Cm ( 1/2 ” ) wide and consist of 5 to 12 yellow ray flowers light blue to nearly m... Of Bremia lactucae, the Egyptian god Min is associated with this species of lettuce Samples L.. Shape is distinctive, with spines on the lower part of the leaf plain and green and. In central-east Canada and north-east United States ( zones 4-7 ), waxy grey green, growing to x. Is estimated to have arrived to North American shores around 1860 flowers composite.