Common Name:

General Information

Lactuca inermis is a sparsely-branched, erect, herbaceous perennial plant. It produces a stem 5 - 150cm tall, occasionally to 240cm tall, from a long, thick taproot[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.

Known 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[].

Botanical References

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Range

Africa - widespread from moister areas of the Sahel south to S. Africa and Madagascar; Arabian Peninsula - Yemen.

Habitat

A pioneer species, found in grassland, woodland, fallow land and roadsides; Generally in higher rainfall areas, favouring moist localities and seasonally wet depressions; at elevations from 650 - 2,800 metres, sometimes ascending to 3,450 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally prefer a light sandy loam in a sunny position[, ].
The plant can become a weed in disturbed soils[].
The plant flowers throughout the year, often without leaves being present[].

Edible Uses

Leaves and young shoots - cooked and eaten as a vegetable177[].

Medicinal

An infusion of the older leaves is drunk as a cure for venereal diseases[, ].

An infusion of the boiled roots is drunk as a cure for venereal diseases[].
The pulverized root is applied as a poultice to sores, ulcers, leprosy and eczema[, ].

A trace of alkaloid has been detected in the roots, none in the leaves, nor any other active principle[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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