Lactuca inermis is a species of wild lettuce native to sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian peninsula.[2] A pioneer species often found in disturbed areas, it is of variable height, from very short (5 cm) to quite tall (240 cm) and woody. Local people consume its young leaves, perhaps with a light boiling, as a salad green or vegetable.[3]

Lactuca inermis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Lactuca
Species:	L. inermis
Binomial name
Lactuca inermis Forssk.[1]
Synonyms[2]
List Lactuca abyssinica Fresen. Lactuca capensis Thunb. Lactuca hochstetteri Sch.Bip. ex Hochst. Lactuca kenyaensis Stebbins Lactuca lebrunii Robyns Lactuca leptocephala Stebbins Lactuca pallidicoerulea Dinter Lactuca rariflora Fresen. Lactuca seretii De Wild. Lactuca vanderystii De Wild. Pyrrhopappus hochstetteri A.Rich. Scorzonera capensis Thunb.

Varieties

Two varieties are currently accepted:[2]

• Lactuca inermis var. inermis
• Lactuca inermis var. myriocephala (Dethier) Lawalrée

References