The Origin and History of Lettuce Lettuce, Lactuca sativa, is nearly always consumed in its raw, uncooked form. It is the world s most popular salad plant. There are 7 general types of lettuce. The crisphead group includes the iceberg and Batavian types.
Iceberg lettuce has a large, firm head with a crisp texture and a white or creamy yellow interior.
The Batavian crisphead lettuce predates the iceberg type and has a smaller and less firm head. Butterhead lettuce has a small, soft head with an almost oily texture. Boston lettuce is an example of a butterhead variety commonly grown in the Salinas Valley. Romaine or cos lettuce has elongated upright leaves forming a loose, loaf-shaped head. The outer leaves are usually dark green.