An erect, glabrous, herbaceous annual, 0.5-1.2 m. high, widely grown for its crisp, edible, highly developed radical leaves, which appear before the flowering starts. Leaves 12.5-25.0 cm. long, thin, nearly orbicular, oblong, obovate or lingulate, plane, bullate or curled; flower heads of yellow rays, borne on panicles; achenes lenticular- oblong, dark brown or greyish brown, with slender beak and white pappus.

Stimulates the central nervous system (plant) and aphrodisiac (leaf); laxative, reduces spasms and diuretic. Anodyne, antispasmodic, digestive, diuretic, hypnotic, narcotic and sedative (sap); anodyne and galactogogue (seed)

Floridata
Lactuca sativa L.
Plants for a Future

Riboflavin, niacin, thiamine, carotene and vitamin C (leaf); lactucarium (the juice from the plant) consists of lactucerin or lactucone, lactucin, lactucic acid, lactucopicrin and a volatile oil.

For painful ulcers and burns (plant). Excellent remedy for acid indigestion and "heartburn." Insomnia, anxiety, neuroses, hyperactivity in children, dry coughs, whooping cough, rheumatic pain etc.

Bentley and Trimen, Medicinal Plants.