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Glite Dictionary
Lactuca

Lactuca

9.0
A group of plants in the daisy family that includes lettuce and has milky sap
  • noun
  • /lækˈtuːkə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Lactuca
  • They fertilized their agricultural crops with menhaden, mussels, and seaweed (probably Ulva lactuca).

Examples

  • You can buy Lactuca (Lactuca sativa) selections individually or as mixes.

  • Many types of Lactuca are used in salads and sandwiches for their crisp texture.

  • Farmers plant Lactuca during the cooler months to ensure a fresh crop of lettuce.

Compounds

Lactuca serriola
  • Specialized
9.9

A wild lettuce plant with prickly leaves and stems that often grows as a weed

Lactuca sativa asparagina
  • Specialized
9.9

A lettuce people grow for its thick tender stems eaten in cooking

Lactuca sativa capitata
  • Specialized
9.7

A round lettuce with leaves packed tightly to form a firm head

Lactuca sativa crispa
  • Specialized
7.9

A type of lettuce with loose, curled leaves used in salads

Lactuca sativa longifolia
  • Specialized
4.6

A lettuce with long dark green spoon-shaped leaves often used in salads

Surface Forms

Lactuca singular
Lactucas plural

Etymology

Lactuca comes from the Latin root lact- meaning 'milk', because these plants often have a white, milky sap. The same root appears in English words like lactation and lactose, so Lactuca reminds us of lettuce and its relatives that produce that milky juice.