Allium

Full article:

Introduction:

In an agroecological approach of permaculture or agroforestry, it is desirable to cultivate plants capable of naturalizing.

However, cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa subsp. sativa) presents a very strong barrier to spontaneous propagation: its flower heads remain closed after the seeds have matured, so the latter cannot fly away as those of their wild ancestor would do (Lactuca sativa subsp. serriola).

While this characteristic resulting from human selection is essential in conventional cultivation systems since it facilitates the harvesting of seeds and avoids the uncontrolled propagation of plants, it is however less relevant in the context of an agroecological culture, based on the processes and ecosystem functions.

This trait can be eliminated through hybridization with it’s wild ancestor: Lactuca sativa subsp. serriola.

Description of the serriola subspecies:

The serriola subspecies is the wild ancestor of domestic lettuce.

The plants are thorny: the stem as well as the midrib on the underside of the leaves.

The taste of their foliage is bitter.

The serriola subspecies is subdivided into two varieties:

Full article:

Introduction:

In an agroecological approach of permaculture or agroforestry, it is desirable to cultivate plants capable of naturalizing.

However, cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa subsp. sativa) presents a very strong barrier to spontaneous propagation: its flower heads remain closed after the seeds have matured, so the latter cannot fly away as those of their wild ancestor would do (Lactuca sativa subsp. serriola).

While this characteristic resulting from human selection is essential in conventional cultivation systems since it facilitates the harvesting of seeds and avoids the uncontrolled propagation of plants, it is however less relevant in the context of an agroecological culture, based on the processes and ecosystem functions.

This trait can be eliminated through hybridization with it’s wild ancestor: Lactuca sativa subsp. serriola.

Description of the serriola subspecies:

The serriola subspecies is the wild ancestor of domestic lettuce.

The plants are thorny: the stem as well as the midrib on the underside of the leaves.

The taste of their foliage is bitter.

The serriola subspecies is subdivided into two varieties: