Lettuce, Wild (Lettuce, Opium)
Lactuca virosa
Biennial. Native to Central and Southern Europe. This species
of wild lettuce contains the highest concentration of the bitter sap, which
when milked from the plant and dried is known as lactucarium. This
is mildly sedative, antitussive and helps relieve pain. Cultivation:
Easy. Sow in spring or fall as you would any lettuce. The flowering
head is decapitated and the juice allowed to harden and dry in the sun.
Flowers yellow to six feet. Seed is black.
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