Flower Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| English Name | Prickly Lettuce |
| MainColor | Yellow |
| PlantType |  Herb |
| Growth Type |  Native |
| Season | July |
| ImageUrl | Lactuca-001 |
| Photographer | DP |
| Location | St Albans |
| Human Toxicity | Non_Toxic |
Flower Details
Description
A tall, spiny-leaved biennial with yellow dandelion-like flowers and milky sap. Considered an ancestor of cultivated lettuce.
Distribution
Native to Europe and Asia; common across the UK on disturbed ground and roadsides.
Medicinal/Other Uses
The sap, known as lactucarium, has mild sedative and analgesic effects and was once used as a natural painkiller or sleep aid.
Edibility
Young leaves can be eaten, though bitter; mature plants exude latex that is unpleasant to taste.
Human Toxicity
Excess consumption of latex or sap can cause drowsiness, nausea, or dizziness.
Pet Toxicity
Mildly toxic – ingestion may cause vomiting or lethargy.
Active Compounds
Lactucin, lactucopicrin, sesquiterpene lactones.