African-lettuce

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African-lettuce
• wild lettuce
• yanrin

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lactuca kotschyi
• Lactuca pentaphylla
• Sonchus pentaphyllus
• Sonchus serratus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Launaea taraxacifolia, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and is categorized under the genus Launaea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Launaea taraxacifolia, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of the African continent. In Northern Africa, its presence is noted in the country of Morocco. Moving toward West Tropical Africa, the species can be found in Benin and Burkina. Furthermore, it extends its range into Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Together, these locations highlight the plant's presence across diverse West African landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Launea taraxacifolia is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. Structurally, it is classified as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or other organic matter during unfavorable periods. This hemicryptophytic nature ensures its survival and ability to regenerate annually from these ground-level buds, facilitating its long-term presence in its natural habitat.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lauanaea taraxacifolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This terrestrial plant functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, and maintains a self-supporting structure without the need for climbing. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a height that typically averages around 1 meter, with recorded measurements ranging from a minimum of approximately 0.61 meters to a maximum of about 1.22 meters.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.219214826 m

Plant height mean:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.609607413 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lauanaea taraxaciifolia is characterized by complex metabolic processes geared toward survival in varying environmental conditions, though it does not possess the specialized symbiotic relationship required to function as a nitrogen fixer. Unlike legumes that host rhizobia in root nodules to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, this species relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium directly from the soil through its root system. Its physiological framework supports essential functions such as photosynthesis, transpiration, and nutrient assimilation, utilizing standard vegetative pathways to sustain growth and secondary metabolite production. Because it lacks the mechanism for nitrogen fixation (trait_1: no), its growth rate and nitrogen content are strictly contingent upon the existing nitrogen availability within its substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Launaea taraxacifolia has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Data in brief
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Chemicals

Launaea taraxacifolia has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, Coumarins, Flavonoids, Glycosides, LYCOPENE.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Coumarins

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Flavonoids

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Glycosides

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

LYCOPENE

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Tannins

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

ascorbic acid

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

caffeic acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

triterpenoids

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Activities

Launaea taraxacifolia has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiproliferative.

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiproliferative

1. Omics : a journal of integrative biology

Medicinal Uses

Launaea taraxacifolia has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, arthritis, bacterial infections, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations