Pathari / पाथरी / Bitter Lettuce / Launaea intybacea

Other Names

  • Local Name: Pathari / पाथरी
  • Common Name: Bitter Lettuce
  • Botanical Name: Launaea intybacea

Status & Habitat

  • Status: NE (Not Evaluated)
  • Habitat: Herb
  • Occurrence: Roadsides, coastal strands, agricultural lands
  • Season of Availability: September-March
  • Geography: Tropical & Subtropical Old World
  • Method of Propagation: Seed propagation
  • Part used for Propagation: Seeds are dispersed through wind and water

Edible Parts

  • Edible Parts: Leaves
  • Can be Eaten Raw: No

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: No
  • Ripe: N/A
  • Both Raw & Ripe: N/A
  • Dangerous Form to Consume: Raw plant
  • As Food: Leaves are eaten boiled and used as a green.
  • As Medicine: Used as a medicinal plant to treat jaundice, liver disorders and skin disease.
  • Cooking Without Prior Boiling: No
  • Boiling Before Cooking: Yes
  • Pickling: N/A
  • Brining: N/A
  • Fermenting: N/A
  • Drying for later Consumption: N/A
  • Overall Method: Boil or cook leaves and plant and use as a green, eg in sabji.

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: High water content
  • Medicinal Benefit: Helps to control lipids, treat Jaundice

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Used as a medicinal plant to treat jaundice, liver disorders and skin disease.

Recipes / Usage

  • Tribal Recipe / Usage: Boil the leaves fully with salt and ghee/butter then mix in oil, spices and onion to make sabji.