Lettice and lettuce are easily confused words.
Lettice (pronounced “luh-teece;” rhymes with Bernice and Maurice) is an English version of the female Latin name Letitia (pronounced “luh-tee-shuh;” also spelled Laetitia/Letticia) Laetitia is the Roman goddess of joy and celebrations.
Famous Lettices:
- Lettice Bryan, American writer of Kentucky Housewife: Containing Nearly Thirteen Hundred Full Receipts, an 1839 cookbook.
- A funny thing in the US is that old recipe books are sometimes called “receipt books,” and this one is no exception. In more recent times, these words diverged: a receipt is a paper proof a purchase was made, and a recipe is strictly for food preparation. In slang, when someone says I’ve brought/got receipts, they mean they have evidence or proof for their claims.]
- Lettice Knollys, Countess of Essex during the reign of Elizabeth I.
- A list of other famous Lettices appears here.
Lettuce (pronounced “let-uss”) is a noun. It is a species of leafy vegetable related to the daisy plant. It grows close to the ground, forming a head from many layers of leaves. Most US lettuce is grown in central California in the Salinas Valley. Click the link to watch a short video about how lettuce is grown, cut, and prepared for market.
Varieties include:
- Iceberg, a light green variety, its leaves have curly, serrated edges. It grows on round heads. It might be the most well-known lettuce in the US. It is served on hamburgers, sandwiches, and in salads. Click the link to see a picture and learn more about the plant.
- Romaine: is medium green leaves grow on an oval-shaped head. It has a slight bitter taste. Romaine is used for Caesar salads, wraps, sandwiches, much like iceberg. Click the link to see a picture and learn more about the plant.
- Endive: This plant is related to chicory. It is pale yellowish green and grows on small, elongated head. Its taste is very bitter. Click the link to see a picture and learn more about the plant.
- Bibb aka Butter: This variety grows on small heads, but its color is a medium green with rounded edges. Click the link to see a picture and learn more about the plant.
- Summer Crisp/Batavia/French crisp: This grows on a short, very curly head. Its leaves are medium green. It is sweet, not bitter like Romaine. Click the link to see a picture and learn more about the plant.
- Leaf: This looks like Romaine but is a lighter green, it grows on a fluffier, elongated head. Click the link to see a picture and learn more about the plant.
If you eat a mixed greens salad or side dish, it may also include:
- Dandelion: These are the leaves from organically grown dandelion flowers. Dandelion is a wildflower. The leaves are an elongated oval with points along the edges. Click the link to see a picture and learn more about the plant.
- Arugula: A medium green plant with long oval-shaped leaves with cup shaped holes along the edges. Click the link to see a picture and learn more about the plant.
- Kale: A dark green plant with very curly edged leaves. Kale has been popular for smoothies in recent years. Click the link to see a picture and learn more about the plant.
- Swiss chard: This plant grows with leaves extending from a central stalk. The stalks of these are deep fuchsia pink, and the leaves are a deep green.
- Click the link to see a picture and learn more about the plant.
- Collards: This plant grows with leaves extending from a central stalk.The stalks of these are white, and the leaves are a very deep green, like an evergreen tree. Collards are very tough and bitter, and are best eaten after cooked on a stovetop. They are very popular in US Southern cuisine, sometimes flavored with ham or meat juices. Click the link to see a picture and learn more about the plant.
- Mustard Greens: These are the leaves from a mustard plant. They have a slight peppery taste to them. Click the link to see a picture and learn more about the plant.
- Turnip Greens: These are the leaves from the top of a turnip vegetable, which grows underground. They have curvy, serrated edges. Click the link to see a picture and learn more about the plant.
- Brussel sprouts: These look like small cabbages growing on a tall stalk. They can be eaten whole by steaming, but sometimes they are peeled into individual leaves for a salad. Click the link to see a picture and learn more about the plant.
If you live in the US and are interesting in growing your own food, your state likely has a website for its agriculture and gardening division. This division is a great resource about soil, soil condition, plant diseases, weather, pests, and other issues related to growing plants where you live.
The following story uses both words correctly:
Lettice didn’t know what she was going to do to keep rabbits out of her vegetable patch. They had gnawed all her lettuce heads to bits. All her carrots were uprooted. It was a disaster.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED APRIL 8, 2021.