Asteraceae FAMILY

Lactuca virosa

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

Poisonous[ 7 Title Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. Publication Author Chiej. R. Publisher MacDonald Year 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5 Description Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs. , 19 Title Poisonous Plants. Publication Author Stary. F. Publisher Hamlyn Year 1983 ISBN 0-600-35666-3 Description Not very comprehensive, but easy reading. ]. Cases of poisoning caused by this plant have only been recorded very rarely[ 65 Title A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Publication Author Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J. Publisher Wolfe Year 1984 ISBN 0723408394 Description Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far. ].

Botanical Description

Lactuca virosa is an annual to biennial plant that can grow up to 180cm tall. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeSouth and western Europe - Britain to Poland, south to Portugal, Spain and Greece; N. Africa - Morocco, Algeria

HabitatGrassy places by roads, canals etc and on banks near the sea[ 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. ], usually on calcareous soils[ 7 Title Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. Publication Author Chiej. R. Publisher MacDonald Year 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5 Description Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs. ].