Lactuca quercina

Lactuca quercina is a species of wild lettuce native to Europe and Asia. It is an annual or biennial herb in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae growing from a taproot to maximum heights of 50–200 cm (19.5–78.5 in) or more.[2][3][4][5]

Lactuca quercina
Lactuca quercina dried specimen
Inflorescence
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Lactuca
Species:
L. quercina
Binomial name
Lactuca quercina
L. 1753
Synonyms[1]
Synonymy
  • Cicerbita corymbosa Wallr.
  • Cicerbita quercina (L.) Wallr.
  • Lactuca altissima M.Bieb.
  • Lactuca chaixii (Vill.)
  • Lactuca lipskyi Krasch.
  • Lactuca sagittata Waldst. & Kit.
  • Lactuca stanekii Domin
  • Lactuca stricta Waldst. & Kit.
  • Lactucopsis altissima (M.Bieb.) Vis. & Pančić
  • Lactucopsis chaixii (Vill.) Vis. & Pančić
  • Lactucopsis quercina (L.) Vis. & Pančić
  • Mulgedium quercinum (L.) C.Jeffrey

Lactuca quercina contains lactucarium, which is the milky sap (white latex) that flows through the stem, leaves, and roots of the plant. It is used as a medicinal herb when dried after contact with air. It may be used as medicinal treatments for its anodyne, antispasmodic, digestive, diuretic, hypnotic, narcotic, and sedative properties. Concentrations of lactucarium are low in young plants, but increase in older plants, occurring highest when in blooming period. Sap may be applied to skin in use for treatment of external warts.[6] Although the standard definition of lactucarium requires its production from Lactuca virosa, it was recognized that smaller quantities of lactucarium could be produced in a similar way from Lactuca sativa and Lactuca canadensis var. elongata, and even that lettuce-opium obtained from Lactuca serriola or Lactuca quercina was of superior quality.[7]

References
  1. The Plant List, Lactuca quercina L.
  2. "Lactuca quercina (Wild Lettuce) - Practical Plants". practicalplants.org. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  3. "Lactuca quercina L." U.S. National Plant Germplasm System. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  4. "Lactuca quercina L. subsp. quercina". PGR Lettuce. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  5. "Lactuca quercina L." Global Compositae Checklist. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  6. "medicinal herbs: WILD LETTUCE - Lactuca quercina". naturalmedicinalherbs.net. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  7. King; Felter; Lloyd, John; Harvey Wickes; John Uri (1898). King's American Dispensatory. Cincinnati: Ohio Valley Co. p. 1114–1117, see Lactuca.—Lettuce and Tinctura Lactucarii (U. S. P.)—Tincture of Lactucarium.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)


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