Description
Leucas cephalotes (Head Leucas) is an annual herb with stems erect, unbranched or with few branches.
Head Leucas is an annual herb with stems erect, unbranched or with few branches, 10 to 50 cm, leafy, hairy with spreading and adpressed retrorse hai Leaves are narrow oblong-elliptic, cuneate, nearly entire to slightly toothed, up to 8 x 2 cm, with long and short glandular hairs denser below.
Leaf-stalk on lower leaves is nearly-absent to about 5 mm.Plant Specifications
| Common Name | Head Leucas, bishkhapru, deokhumba, guma |
| Maximum Reachable Height | 15 to 60 cm |
| Flower Colour | White |
| Bloom Time | July-October |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to grow |
Leucas cephalotes care
Direct sowing is recommended as soon as the ground can be worked. Plant seeds 1.27 cm deep. Snow will not hurt them, but a desiccating cold wind will.
If you want an earlier crop, however, you may start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before last spring frost date for an earlier crop. Harden off seedlings for about one week,
| Sunlight | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| Watering | Medium |
| Soil | well-drained soil |
| Temperature | 60o C |
| Fertilizer | Apply any organic fertilizer |
Leucas cephalotes special feature
Mature lettuce gets bitter and woody and it will go bad quickly, so check your garden everyday.
Leucas cephalotes uses
Ornamental Use:
- The plant is used for an ornamental purpose
Culinary Use:
- It is collected for use as a leafy vegetable in rural areas