Great Lettuce (Lactuca virosa), also known as Wild Lettuce or Prickly Lettuce, is a biennial herbaceous plant species native to the United Kingdom. Belonging to the Asteraceae family, it is commonly found in various habitats, including grasslands, woodland edges, waste grounds, and disturbed areas across the UK.

Great Lettuce thrives in nutrient-rich, well-drained soils, often favouring open habitats with full sun or partial shade. It can tolerate a wide range of soil types and environmental conditions, making it a common sight in both natural and human-altered landscapes.

Predators of Great Lettuce include herbivores such as rabbits and deer, which may feed on its foliage. However, its bitter-tasting leaves and the presence of latex sap often deter extensive browsing.

As a biennial plant, Great Lettuce completes its lifecycle within two years. In the first year, it forms a rosette of basal leaves, followed by the production of a tall flowering stem in the second year. It reproduces primarily via seeds, which are dispersed by wind or animals.

Culturally, Great Lettuce does not hold significant symbolic or traditional references in the UK. However, it has a long history of medicinal use, particularly in traditional herbal medicine, where it was believed to have sedative and pain-relieving properties.

An interesting fact about Great Lettuce is its association with lactucarium, a milky substance produced by the plant that was once used as a mild sedative and painkiller. This substance was harvested from the stems and leaves of the plant and was historically used in herbal remedies.