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Lactuca sativa cultivar You Mai Cai
| Family Name: | Asteraceae (Compositae) |
| Common Name: | You Mai Cai (油麦菜), Chinese Lettuce, Sword Lettuce |
You Mai Cai (油麦菜) is a traditional Chinese vegetable which is valued for its sweet and somewhat spicy flavour, as well as a rich source of nutrients, such as iron and Vitamins A and K.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Annual |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Open |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Annual herb. |
|---|---|
| Cultivation | It grows best in well-drained soil that is kept moist with 10 to 20 cm space between plants. Feed every 1 to 2 weeks with a high nitrogen fertiliser. Plants can reach maturity in 45 days. You can harvest the outer leaves and leave the inner leaves to grow back for additional harvests. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The leaves are often used in soups and stir-fried dishes. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 33997 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8413 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
