Asteraceae FAMILY

Lactuca perennis

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

Although no specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, many plants in this genus contain a narcotic principle, this is at its most concentrated when the plant begins to flower. This principle has been almost bred out of the cultivated forms of lettuce but is produced when the plant starts to go to seed[ 13 Title Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Publication Author Triska. Dr. Publisher Hamlyn Year 1975 ISBN 0-600-33545-3 Description Very interesting reading, giving some details of plant uses and quite a lot of folk-lore. ].

Botanical Description

Lactuca perennis is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.60 metres tall. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEurope - Baltic States south to Spain, east to Ukraine, Romania and Greece

HabitatRocky or other dry places, especially on calcareous soils, from lowland to subalpine regions[ 27 Title The Vegetable Garden. Publication Author Vilmorin. A. Publisher Ten Speed Press Year ISBN 0-89815-041-8 Description A reprint of a nineteenth century classic, giving details of vegetable varieties. Not really that informative though. , 50 Title Flora Europaea Publication Author ? Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1964 ISBN - Description An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader. ].