Bitter lettuce
Launaea cornuta

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 100 cm high. It has a creeping root system. The stem is erect and hollow. The leaves at the base are in a ring. They are alternate on the stem. They are narrowly oval and 2-25 cm long by 1-8 cm wide. It can have lobes along the stalk. The flowers occur as 15-27 in a head.

There are about 55 Launaea species. Sonchus cornutus Hochst. ex Oliv. & Hiern is a synonym of Launaea cornuta (Hochst. ex Oliv. & Hiern.) V. Jeffrey. Sonchus cornutus Hochst. ex Steud. is an unresolved name.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is most common in the hot lowland zone but grows up to 2,300 m altitude. It grows on all soil types. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Djibouti, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahel, Somalia, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten. It is mixed with other vegetables. It is bitter and changing the cooking water can reduce the bitterness.

It is an important vegetable in some places. Leaves are sold in markets. It is sometimes cultivated.

Edible parts

Vegetable, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. They can be grown from sections of the roots. It can be grown from the bases of the stems.

The young, large leaves in a ring are usually collected as they are less bitter.

Its other names

Local names

Achak, Bunshugaar, Lekulee, Magak, Mchunga, Moleita, Mshunga, Muthunga, Muthunka, Mutsungu, Suunga, Uthinga, Yeau

Synonyms

Sonchus exauriculatus (Oliv. & Hiern.) C. Jeffrey; Sonchus cornutus Hochst. ex Oliv. & Hiern.;