Launaea fragilis
StarLaunaea fragilis
Synonyms: Launaea resedifolia subsp. longiloba, Lactuca fragilis
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In North African and south-western Asian folk medicine, Launaea fragilis is employed for a range of complaints. The plant is used traditionally to treat skin diseases, diarrhoea, infected wounds and inflammation, as a bitter stomachic, and for hepatic pain, and is also reported as a diuretic and soporific (Saleem et al., 2023). Pharmacological work on the species has reported anti-inflammatory activity consistent with its folk use for inflammatory and wound conditions.
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Botanical Description
Launaea fragilis is a perennial herb of the daisy family (Asteraceae), a xero-halophyte adapted to dry, saline and disturbed habitats. It forms a slender, often somewhat fragile and much-branched plant with a basal rosette of pinnately lobed or runcinate leaves and largely leafless, wiry flowering stems. The capitula are small, yellow and ligulate, composed entirely of ray-like florets as in other members of the chicory tribe, and produce ribbed achenes bearing a pappus of fine hairs that aids wind dispersal. All parts exude milky latex when broken, characteristic of the genus. Launaea fragilis is distributed across the southern Mediterranean basin, North Africa and south-western Asia, growing on arid steppes, sandy and stony ground, roadsides and saline soils. It is one of about fifty species in the genus Launaea, several of which are valued as wild greens or folk medicines in arid regions.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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