Prickly lettuce, Compass Plant
Lactuca serriola

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows 1-2 m high. It takes 2 years to complete its life-cyle. It has a well developed taproot. The leaves have deep lobes and are bluish-green with a whitish bloom. They have prickly edges. The lower leaves form a ring near the ground. They are large and the higher leaves are smaller. The leaves are 3-18 cm long. The flowering stem is stiff and 1.5 m high. The flowers are small and yellow. There are prickles on the midrib of the leaves. The spiny stems ooze milky sap when cut. Variety scariola has leaves and lobes that are more narrow than Lactuca serriola.

There are about 20 Lactuca species. It can contain bitter compounds that have a sedative effect.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on waste ground and can be on stony or rocky land and sand dunes. It can grow in arid places. In western China it grows between 500-2,000 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, Chile, China, Crete, Croatia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Egypt, Europe (country/location of origin), France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyztsan, Lebanon, Libya, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Paraguay, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sicily, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, West Indies, Yemen, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves need to be used when young. The leaves are used as a vegetable. They can be used in salads or cooked. The seeds can be used to produce edible cooking oil. It must be refined before eating. The plant accumulates lactucarium towards flowering which is mildly narcotic. The flower heads have been eaten but are bitter. Boiled prickly lettuce is boiled and has the taste of asparagus. It is used in salads and soups.

It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds - oil, flower heads, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aci marul, Agriomaroulo, Cicuroni, Enciam bord, Escarola, Esek marulu, Ghoris qada, Glossa to sciddhio, Hazar, Helvacik, Kahu, Kathnuk, Keklik otu, Khas, Khava, Laciacian, Lattarola, Lattuca spinusa, Lattucio, Lattuquedde, Lechuga espinosa, Lechuga salvaje, Lechuguilla, Lessan-imthawr, Maroula, Merille, Nilhue, Opium lettuce, Radika, Riccetto, Riccino, Ricciolo, Scarola, Willow lettuce, Xiaobaijang, Xiaokumacai, Yabanmarulu, Zarko poi boti

Synonyms

Lactuca altaica Fisch. & C. A. Mey.; Lactuca augustana All.; Lactuca coriacea Sch.Bip.; Lactuca dubia Jord.; Lactuca scariola L. Lactuca sylvestris Lam.; Lactuca tephrocarpa K. Koch;