Lactuca Serriola 'Opium Lettuce' ~*

Opium Lettuce, Wild Lettuce, or Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola) is an annual or biennial plant, that is commonly considered a weed. The closest wild relative of cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), it grows throughout the temperate regions of all major continents. The leaves grow along a spiny stem and get progressively smaller as they reach its top. They emit latex when cut. Many flowers are produced and usually appear in the upper part of the plant. It has a hairless reddish stem, containing a milky latex, growing from 30 to 200cm. The leaves are oblong lanceolate, often pinnated (especially for the lower leaves), waxy grey green. Fine spines are along the edges. The undersides have whitish veins. The flower heads are 11 to 13mm wide, are pale yellow, often tinged purple. The bracts are also often tinged purple. The achenes are grey, bristly tipped. The pappus is white with equal lengthed hairs. The plant can be eaten as a salad, although it has something of a bitter taste. Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. However, its presence in some ancient deposits has been linked more to its soporific properties which might suggest ritual use. The Ancient Greeks also believed its pungent juice to be a remedy against eye ulcers and Pythagoreans called the lettuce eunuch because it caused urination and relaxed sexual desire. The Navajo used the plant as a ceremonial emetic. In the island of Crete in Greece the leaves and the tender shoots of a variety called maroula (μαρούλα) or agriomaroulo (αγριομάρουλο) are eaten boiled by the locals. Has also been used as a mild sedative and as a non addictive replacement for opium and it's related products. These grow wild everywhere around here. A bunch of new seedlings are coming up, with the older ones releasing their seed at the moment. I give them no care at all and just let nature take its course.