Bitter Lettuce

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Turkey, ", Spain

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Anodyne, Cancer, Cough, Diuretic

Science studied: BETA-AMYRIN, CITRIC-ACID, GERMANICOL, HYOSCYAMINE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Asteraceae

Scientific name: Lactuca virosa

Common names: Bitter Lettuce, Acrid lettuce, Alface maior, Alface virosa, Alface-brava-maior, Alface-virosa, Bitter lettuce, Cardo lechero, Cerraya, Cyw, Enciam boscà, Ensiam venenós, Gifsla, Gift-Lattich

POWO: 329493-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Elsewhere, Turkey, ", Spain.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Anodyne
• Cancer
• Cough
• Diuretic
• Expectorant
• Hypnotic
• Jaundice
• Laxative

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Elsewhere
• Turkey
• "
• Spain

Documented cultural uses

• Anodyne
• Cancer
• Cough
• Diuretic
• Expectorant
• Hypnotic
• Jaundice
• Laxative
• Narcotic
• Sedative
• Asthma
• Gout

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Anodyne · Elsewhere · "
• Anodyne · Turkey · "
• Cancer · " · "
• Cough · Elsewhere · "
• Diuretic · Elsewhere · "
• Expectorant · Elsewhere · "
• Expectorant · Turkey · "
• Hypnotic · Spain · "
• Hypnotic · Elsewhere · "
• Hypnotic · Turkey · "
• Jaundice · Elsewhere · "
• Laxative · Turkey · "
• Narcotic · Turkey · "
• Sedative · Elsewhere · "
• Sedative · Turkey · "
• Asthma · Elsewhere · "
• Diuretic · Turkey · "
• Gout · Elsewhere · "
• Lactogogue · Turkey · "
• Poison · Turkey · "
• Antitussive · Elsewhere · "
• Dropsy · Elsewhere · "
• Soporific · Elsewhere · "
• Sudorific · Turkey · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Genome assembly and analysis of Lactuca virosa: implications for lettuce breeding. · 2023 source ↗
• Genome assembly and analysis of <i>Lactuca virosa</i> : implications for lettuce breeding · 2023 source ↗
• Sequence of the Mitochondrial Genome of <i>Lactuca virosa</i> Suggests an Unexpected Role in <i>Lactuca sativa</i>'s Evolution. · 2021 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• BETA-AMYRIN
• CITRIC-ACID
• GERMANICOL
• HYOSCYAMINE
• LACTUCEROLS
• LACTUCIC-ACID
• LACTUPICRIN
• MALIC-ACID
• MANNITOL
• BETA-SITOSTEROL
• SQUALENE
• TARAXASTEROL
• CAOUTCHOUC
• LACTUCERIN
• LACTUCIN
• OXALIC-ACID

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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