Wild Lettuce, Greater Prickly Lettuce, Bitter lettuce
Lactuca virosa

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It can grow 2 m tall.

There are about 20 Lactuca species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Britain, Europe, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, North America, Pakistan, Portugal, South America, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye, USA

How it is used for food

The plant accumulates lactucarium towards flowering which is mildly narcotic. The leaves although bitter are added to salads.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Scarola

Synonyms

Lactuca lactucarii Lamotte; Lactuca patersonii Menezes; and others