Wild lettuce

Wild lettuce is a common name for several

lactucarium Lactucarium is the milky fluid secreted by several species of lettuce, especially ''Lactuca virosa'', usually from the base of the stems. It is known as lettuce opium because of its sedative and analgesic properties. It has also been reported ...

-containing plants related to

lettuce Lettuce (''Lactuca sativa'') is an annual plant of the family Asteraceae. It is most often grown as a leaf vegetable, but sometimes for its stem and seeds. Lettuce is most often used for salads, although it is also seen in other kinds of food, ...

(''Lactuca sativa''). The name most often refers to ''

Lactuca virosa ''Lactuca virosa'' is a plant in the ''Lactuca'' (lettuce) genus, often ingested for its mild analgesic and sedative effects. It is related to common lettuce ('' L. sativa''), and is often called wild lettuce, bitter lettuce, laitue vireuse, opi ...

'' (Europe, Asia, introduced to North America), though it may also refer to: * ''

Lactuca canadensis ''Lactuca canadensis'' is a species of wild lettuce known by the common names Canada lettuce, Canada wild lettuce, tall lettuce, and Florida blue lettuce.Weakley, Alan S''. Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States.'' UNC Herbarium, North Car ...

'' (North America) * ''

Lactuca ludoviciana ''Lactuca ludoviciana'', the biannual lettuce, is a North American species of wild lettuce. It is widespread across much of central and western Canada and the western and central United States from Ontario west to British Columbia and south to Lo ...

'' (NW America) * ''

Lactuca serriola ''Lactuca serriola'', also called prickly lettuce, milk thistle (not to be confused with ''Silybum marianum'', also called milk thistle), compass plant, and scarole, is an annual or biennial plant in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asterac ...

'' (Southern Europe) * ''

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 or more. ''Lactuca quercina'' contai ...

'' (Eurasia) * ''

Lactuca floridana ''Lactuca floridana'', commonly known as woodland lettuce, Florida lettuce, or false lettuce is a North American species of wild lettuce. It is native across much of central Canada and the eastern and central United States. ''Lactuca floridana ...

'' (North America) {{Plant common name Lactuca Lettuce Medicinal plants