Lactuca serriola

[Ozric Jonathan]

Hi, does anyone know if this plant Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola) is OK to feed tortoises? I don't have of it but it might be one I would cultivate. The leaves have been eaten by humans as a salad so I'm hopeful it might be alright. Actually look a bit like some sow thistles.

[Kirkie]

If you go by PFDB I'd say no http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants....ctuca+serriola but thats based on human consumption.

I've seen prickly lettuce on some feeding lists for Gopherus tortoise species and it does grow throughout Europe.

Maybe the young leaves would be ok in small quantities but the bigger leaves might contain higher levels of the toxins mentioned in the PFDB link.

I also found that "Leaves on the main stem follow a north south plane and the plant can be used as a compass".

Handy.

[Alan1]

I'm sure I read somewhere about a prickly lettuce being toxic but it may be a different type to that as I don't know the latin name that it had

[16 shells]

I reakon i have fed this one when young plant, mistaking for Smooth Sow Thistle. Wikipedia just claim it as the true wild lettuce.
Paul

[Ozric Jonathan]

I don't think I'll bother growing any then. Wolfgang mentions miner's lettuce. I'll see what I can find out about that one. (He should have used Latin names I reckon just to be sure about species as common names vary a lot and maybe don't translate from the German).

Thanks for your replies on Prickly Lettuce

[Ozric Jonathan]

I looked up miner's lettuce (CLAYTONIA PERFOLIATA ) and its a Claytonia. Martin Dan felt that Claytonia species were not suitable for tortoises, I don't remember why but I think this means I wouldn't try to grow any of that one either then.