Lettuce: Difference between revisions
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'''Lettuce''' (''Lactuca sativa'') is a [[temperate]] [[annual plant|annual]] or [[biennial plant]] of the daisy family [[Asteraceae]]. It is most often grown as a [[leaf vegetable]]. In many countries, it is typically eaten cold, raw, in [[salad]]s, [[sandwich]]es, [[hamburger]]s, [[taco]]s, and in many other dishes. In some places, including [[China]], lettuce is typically eaten cooked and use of the stem is as important as use of the leaf. Both the English name and the [[Latin]] name of the genus are ultimately derived from ''lac'', the Latin word for “[[milk]]”,<ref>{{cite book | last = Simpson | first = D.P. | title = Cassell's Latin Dictionary | publisher = Cassell Ltd. | year = 1979 | edition = 5 | location = London | pages = 883 | isbn = 0-304-52257-0}}</ref> referring to the plant’s milky juice. Mild in flavour, it has been described over the centuries as a cooling counterbalance to other ingredients in a salad.<ref name=Grigson313>Grigson, p. 313</ref> |
'''Lettuce''' (''Lactuca sativa'') is a [[temperate]] [[annual plant|annual]] or [[biennial plant]] of the daisy family [[Asteraceae]]. Of the types of lettuce, recent studies have shown that [[Iceberg Lettuce]] is among the most nutritious, more so than the runner up known as [[Romaine Lettuce]]. It is most often grown as a [[leaf vegetable]]. In many countries, it is typically eaten cold, raw, in [[salad]]s, [[sandwich]]es, [[hamburger]]s, [[taco]]s, and in many other dishes. In some places, including [[China]], lettuce is typically eaten cooked and use of the stem is as important as use of the leaf. Both the English name and the [[Latin]] name of the genus are ultimately derived from ''lac'', the Latin word for “[[milk]]”,<ref>{{cite book | last = Simpson | first = D.P. | title = Cassell's Latin Dictionary | publisher = Cassell Ltd. | year = 1979 | edition = 5 | location = London | pages = 883 | isbn = 0-304-52257-0}}</ref> referring to the plant’s milky juice. Mild in flavour, it has been described over the centuries as a cooling counterbalance to other ingredients in a salad.<ref name=Grigson313>Grigson, p. 313</ref> |
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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The lettuce plant has a short stem initially (a [[Rosette (botany)|rosette]] growth habit), but when it gradually blooms, the stem and branches lengthens; and produces many flower heads that look like those of [[dandelion]]s, but smaller. This is referred to as [[wiktionary:bolt#Verb|bolting]]. When grown to eat, lettuce is harvested before it bolts. Lettuce is used as a food plant by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]]. |
The lettuce plant has a short stem initially (a [[Rosette (botany)|rosette]] growth habit), but when it gradually blooms, the stem and branches lengthens; and produces many flower heads that look like those of [[dandelion]]s, but smaller. This is referred to as [[wiktionary:bolt#Verb|bolting]]. When grown to eat, lettuce is harvested before it bolts. Lettuce is used as a food plant by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]]. |
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Revision as of 04:58, 24 September 2009
| Lettuce | |
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| Iceberg lettuce field in Northern Santa Barbara County | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
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| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | L. sativa
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| Binomial name | |
| Lactuca sativa | |
Template:FixBunching Template:FixBunching
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | 55 kJ (13 kcal) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2.2 g | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dietary fibre | 1.1 g | ||||||||||||||||||||||
0.2 g | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1.4 g | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Other constituents | Quantity | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Water | 96 g | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Vit. K[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[2] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is a temperate annual or biennial plant of the daisy family Asteraceae. Of the types of lettuce, recent studies have shown that Iceberg Lettuce is among the most nutritious, more so than the runner up known as Romaine Lettuce. It is most often grown as a leaf vegetable. In many countries, it is typically eaten cold, raw, in salads, sandwiches, hamburgers, tacos, and in many other dishes. In some places, including China, lettuce is typically eaten cooked and use of the stem is as important as use of the leaf. Both the English name and the Latin name of the genus are ultimately derived from lac, the Latin word for “milk”,[4] referring to the plant’s milky juice. Mild in flavour, it has been described over the centuries as a cooling counterbalance to other ingredients in a salad.[5]
Description
The lettuce plant has a short stem initially (a rosette growth habit), but when it gradually blooms, the stem and branches lengthens; and produces many flower heads that look like those of dandelions, but smaller. This is referred to as bolting. When grown to eat, lettuce is harvested before it bolts. Lettuce is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera.
Cultivation
Lettuce is grown commercially worldwide, hardy to Zone 6,[6] requiring light, sandy, humus rich, moist soil.[6] Dry conditions can cause the plants to go to seed (known as bolting). It is normally grown by early and late sowing in sunny positions, or summer crops in shade[6]. It is considered fairly easy to grow and a suitable crop for beginners.[7]
Planting Depth: Some resources suggest planting seeds by covering lightly with soil[8] while others suggest a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch[9]
Planting Spacing: Thin seedlings to 10 cm (4 in) apart for leaf lettuce [1 sq. m (9/sq ft)] and 6 to 8 inches (200 mm) apart for Cos or Butterhead (4/sq ft - 1/sq ft), transplant Crisphead seedlings 10 to 12 inches (300 mm) apart in the row (1/sq ft).[9]
Row Spacing: 12 - 18 inches apart[9]
History
The earliest depiction of lettuce is in the carvings at the temple of Senusret I at Karnak, where he offers milk to the god Min, to whom the lettuce was sacred. Lettuce was considered an aphrodisiac food in Ancient Egypt, and appears as such in The Contendings of Horus and Seth. Later, Ancient Greek physicians believed lettuce could act as a sleep-inducing agent. The Romans cultivated it, and it eventually made its way to the Papal Court at Avignon, France.[10] Christopher Columbus introduced lettuce to the New World.[11][unreliable source?]
Cultivars
There are six commonly recognised Cultivar Groups of lettuce which are ordered here by head formation and leaf structure; there are hundreds of cultivars of lettuce selected for leaf shape and colour, as well as extended field and shelf life, within each of these Cultivar Groups:
- Butterhead forms loose heads. Its leaves have a buttery texture. Butterhead cultivars are most popular in Europe. Popular varieties include Boston, Bibb, Buttercrunch, and Tom Thumb.
- Chinese lettuce types generally have long, sword-shaped, non-head-forming leaves, with a bitter and robust flavour unlike Western types, for use in stir-fried dishes and stews. Chinese lettuce cultivars are divided into “stem-use” types (called celtuce in English), and “leaf-use” types such as youmaicai (Chinese: 油麦菜; pinyin: yóumàicài) or shengcai (生菜).
- Crisphead, also called Iceberg, forms tight, dense heads that resemble cabbage. They are generally the mildest of the lettuces, valued more for their crunchy texture than for flavour. Cultivars of iceberg lettuce are the most familiar lettuces in the USA. The name Iceberg refers to the crisp, cold, clean characteristics of the leaves.
- Looseleaf has tender, delicate, and mildly flavoured leaves. This group includes oak leaf and lollo rosso lettuces.
- Romaine, also called Cos, grows in a long head of sturdy leaves with a firm rib down the center. Unlike most lettuces, it is tolerant of heat.
- Summer Crisp, also called Batavian, forms moderately dense heads with a crunchy texture. This type is intermediate between iceberg and looseleaf types.
Some lettuces (especially iceberg) have been specifically bred to remove the bitterness from their leaves. These lettuces have a high water content with very little nutrient value. The more bitter lettuces and the ones with pigmented leaves contain antioxidants. [citation needed]
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Some lettuce cultivars -
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Chemical compunds which occur in lettuce:
1: α-Lactucerol (=Taraxasterol); 2: β-Lactucerol (=Lactucon, Lactucerin); 3: Lactucin; 4: Lactucopicrin. -
More lettuce cultivars
Breeding
L. sativa can easily be bred with closely related species in Lactuca such as L. serriola, L. saligna, and L. virosa, and breeding programs for cultivated lettuce have included those species to broaden the available gene pool. Starting in the 1990s, such programs began to include more distantly related species such as L. tatarica.[12]
Seed saving
Lettuce is an inbreeding plant[6][8]. Flowers form in heads of 10-25 individual florets[8] of perfect flowers[6]. Lettuce is considered suitable for seed-saving beginners.[13]
Production
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reports that world production of lettuce and chicory for calendar year 2007 was 23.55 million tons, primarily coming from China (51%), United States (22%) and Spain (5%).
| Country | Production (Tonnes) | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 People's Republic of China |
12 000 000 | FAO estimate | ||
 United States |
5 105 980 | official figure | ||
 Spain |
1 070 000 | FAO estimate | ||
 Italy |
850 078 | official figure | ||
 India |
790 000 | FAO estimate | ||
 Japan |
560 000 | FAO estimate | ||
 France |
471 000 | FAO estimate | ||
 Turkey |
382 034 | official figure | ||
 Mexico |
275 000 | FAO estimate | ||
 Australia |
185 000 | FAO estimate | ||
| Template:Country data World | 23 550 943 | aggregate | ||
Nutrition
Lettuce is a fat free, low calorie food and is good for a well balanced diet. It is a valuable source of vitamin A and folic acid. Lactucarium (or “Lettuce Opium”) is a mild opiate-like substance that is contained in all types of lettuce. Both the Romans and Egyptians took advantage of this property eating lettuce at the end of a meal to induce sleep.[14]
Religious restrictions
The Yazidi of northern Iraq consider eating lettuce taboo.[15]
Notes
- ^ Molly Damon, Nancy Z. Zhang, David B. Haytowitz, Sarah L. Booth (2005). "Phylloquinone (vitamin K1) content of vegetables". Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 18. Elsevier: 751–758. doi:10.1016/j.jfca.2004.07.004.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". FDA. Archived from the original on 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
- ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US). ISBN 978-0-309-48834-1. PMID 30844154. Archived from the original on 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
- ^ Simpson, D.P. (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5 ed.). London: Cassell Ltd. p. 883. ISBN 0-304-52257-0.
- ^ Grigson, p. 313
- ^ a b c d e "Plants for a Future: Lactuca sativa". Plants for a Future. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- ^ "Mother Earth News: 10 Best Garden Crops for Beginners". Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- ^ a b c Ashworth, Suzanne (2002). Seed to Seed. Seed Savers Exchange. ISBN 1-882424-58-0.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: checksum (help) - ^ a b c "University of Illinois Extension: Lettuce". Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- ^ Grigson, p. 312
- ^ "Lettuce:Food Facts & Trivia". Retrieved 2007-11-02.
- ^ Wim J. M. Koopman, Eli Guetta, Clemens C. M. van de Wiel, Ben Vosman and Ronald G. van den Berg (1998). "Phylogenetic relationships among Lactuca (Asteraceae) species and related genera based on ITS-1 DNA sequences". American Journal of Botany. pp. 1517–1530.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "I n t e r n a t i o n a l S e e d S a v i n g I n s t i t u t e - Lettuce". Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- ^ "Lettuce - Lactuca sativa - Daisy family". Hamilton, Dave (2005).
- ^ MacFarquhar, Neill (2003-01-03). "Bashiqa Journal: A Sect Shuns Lettuce and Gives the Devil His Due". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- "Iceberg and Leaf Lettuce", University of California
Cited text
- Grigson, Jane (1978). The Vegetable Book. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-14-046-352-6.