Indian lettuce (Lactuca indica)

29-Growth-form_webCommon Names
Indian lettuce, milkweed, wild lettuce (En); lechuga de la India (Sp); 山萵苣 (Cn)

Plant Distribution
South, East, and Southeast Asia

Edible Parts
Leaves and tender stems with slight bitterness are used fresh as salad, boiled, steamed or stir-fried, or in soup.

Health Values
Beta-carotene: high; riboflavin: medium; ascorbic acid: medium; calcium: medium; iron: high; protein: 2.2%. Leaves contain also six antioxidative phenolic compounds.

Read more: Indian lettuce, in Discovering Indigenous Treasures: Promising Indigenous Vegetables from Around the World. 2009. AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center.