The plants put forth fresh sprouts after having been cut; but the quality is inferior, and the variety is rarely cultivated.
Red Winter Cos.
Foliage deep-brown, smooth, and glossy,—gathered at the centre of the plant into a loose heart, rather than head; seeds black.
The hardiness of this lettuce is its principal merit. It is little affected by severe weather; and, as a sort for winter culture, is desirable. When grown in summer, it is of poor quality.
Spotted Cos (Black-Seeded).
Red-spotted. Bloody. Aleppo. Panachée à Graine noire. Vil.
This variety is similar to the White-seeded, and, like it, forms no head: the leaves are green, much stained or clouded with brownish-red, erect, firm, rounded at the ends, concave or spoon-shaped, and grouped at the centre into a long and comparatively close heart.
It is crisp and well flavored, but attains its greatest perfection only when the outer leaves are tied loosely together about the top of the plant.
Spotted Cos (White-Seeded). Vil.
Like the preceding, this variety forms no head; but the interior leaves are formed into an erect, oblong, close heart, which, by tying the exterior leaves together, becomes white, crisp, and of excellent flavor.