Prickly Lettuce

Lactuca serriola

Prickly Lettuce image

Prickly lettuce, also called wild lettuce or wild opium is found throughout the United States. It grows to height of 2 to 5 feet. The plant flowers from July to September with a yellow, daisy-like flower. All parts of the plants emit a milky sap when cut. Deer will eat young plants but older plants are bitter. Wild turkeys will eat the leaves. Several edible lettuces, such as crisphead, butterhead, romaine, and loose leaf or bunching, and stem lettuce or celtuce all were derived from this plant. The plant has been used in soap making.