Prickly lettuce

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• China lettuce
• compass plant
• lobed prickly lettuce
• prickly lettuce
• milk thistle
• scarole
• Wild lettuce
• compass-plant

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lactuca scariola subsp. augustanae
• Lactuca scariola var. dubia
• Lactuca serriola f. integrifolia
• Lactuca saligna var. robusta
• Lactuca serriola var. integrata
• Lactuca sativa subsp. serriola
• Lactuca sylvestris var. integrifolia
• Hieracium lactuca
• Lactuca albicaulis
• Lactuca angustifolia
• Lactuca auriculata
• Lactuca bracteata
• Lactuca pseudovirosa
• Lactuca verticalis
• Wiestia spectabilis
• Lactuca augustana
• Lactuca officinarum
• Lactuca plicata
• Lactuca serriola f. serriola
• Lactuca scariola var. integrifolia
• Lactuca sylvestris
• Lactuca tephrocarpa
• Lactuca scariola var. nieuwlandii
• Lactuca serriola subvar. plicata
• Lactuca scariola subsp. integrata
• Lactuca altaica
• Lactuca angustana
• Lactuca coriacea
• Lactuca dubia
• Lactuca scariola var. integrata
• Lactuca integrata
• Lactuca virosa var. integrifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Lactuca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the northern reaches of the European continent. Within Northern Europe, its presence is well-documented in the country of Denmark. The species can also be found growing in the northern territories of Finland and Norway. Additionally, its range extends to the island of Ireland. Finally, this medicinal plant is naturally distributed throughout Great Britain.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lactuca serriola is characterized by its ability to thrive in anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), indicating a high degree of adaptability to human-disturbed environments. It exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2800 m AMSL. Across its documented range, the species maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1233 m AMSL, reflecting its capacity to colonize diverse ecological zones from lowlands to high-altitude terrains.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1233 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Lactuca serriola is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant survives the unfavorable seasons primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until conditions become optimal for growth. Throughout its active phase, it exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as it transitions through its seasonal stages. This strategic life form allows the species to efficiently exploit transient environmental resources before concluding its life cycle through senescence and seed dispersal.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Lactuca serriola is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, meaning it does not require external structures to maintain its position. Its shoots are oriented in an erect manner, supporting a stature that varies significantly depending on environmental conditions; individual specimens typically range in height from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 2.5 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.74 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.741666666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lactuca serriola is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, as it does not function as a nitrogen fixer. Its vegetative structure is defined by an alternate leaf arrangement, featuring oblong-shaped leaves that vary in dimensions. These leaves exhibit a mean length of 11 cm, ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 20 cm, while the width typically averages 4.125 cm, with measurements spanning from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 7 cm. Consequently, the plant maintains a mean leaf size of 59.93 cm², supported by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 165.86 cm²/g, which reflects its morphological efficiency in light interception and resource management.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

oblong

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

11 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf size mean:

59.93 cm²

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.125 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

165.86 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lactuca serriola is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers arranged in a panicle inflorescence. The flowering period is relatively long, typically beginning in April and extending through October. The flowers are yellow in color and utilize a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects for successful pollination. While self-fertilization is present, the plant is classified as a monocarp, meaning it completes its reproductive cycle once. The resulting fruit is a dry, indehiscent achene, which typically measures an average of 0.325 cm in length and 0.1 cm in width (with a maximum length of 0.4 cm and a minimum of 0.3 cm). Each fruit is highly productive, containing more than 1,000 seeds. These seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00052572725 g (ranging from 0.0002 g to 0.00096 g), a mean length of 2.8 mm, and a mean volume of 0.51 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing wind to spread the seeds effectively. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.325 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.1 cm

Inflorescence :

panicle

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

2.8 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00096 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00052572725 g

Seed mass min:

2e-04 g

Seed volume max:

0.51 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Lactuca serriola has 32 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include linoleic acid, 2-ETHYL HEXANOL, 8-Deoxylactucin, Arachidic acid, BETA-SITOSTEROL.

linoleic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

2-ETHYL HEXANOL

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

8-Deoxylactucin

1. Dr. Duke

Arachidic acid

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Caoutchouc

1. Dr. Duke

Caproic acid

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoid

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Germanicol

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Lactuca serriola has 195 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Acaricide, Alcohol-Dehydrogenase-Inhibitor, Allelopathic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Alcohol-Dehydrogenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Amylase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Lactuca serriola has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include volatile oils.

Volatile oils

1. Chemistry & biodiversity