CICHORIUM INTYBUS subsp. INTYBUS

Family and Genus:- See- COMPOSITAE

Common Name:- Chicory

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Cichorium (Gr) A name used by the Greek philosopher Theophrastrus

from the Arabic 'kesher' for chicory.

Intybus (Gr) Wild chicory, from the Arabic 'tybi.'

General description:- Hairless, or somewhat stiffly-hairy, medium to tall perennial;

with a long, stout taproot.

Stems:-

1) 30-120 cm erect, with rigid, patent-ascending branches.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, 7-30 X 1-12 cm, oblanceolate, runcinate-pinnatifid to dentate, shortly

petiolate.

2) Cauline, with fewer teeth or entire, sessile, amplexicaul.

Flowers:-

1) Peduncles, of the terminal capitula slightly thickened at the apex.

2) Involucre, 11-14 X 4-10 mm.

a) outer bracts, c. 8, broadly lanceolate, patent at the apex.

b) Inner bracts, c. 5, twice as long as the outer and narrower, erect.

3) Ligules, bright blue, rarely pink or white, 3 times as long as the involucre.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes, 2-3 mm, irregularly angular, pale brown.

2) Pappus-scales, 1/10-1/8 as long as the achene.

Key features:-

1) Spine-like branches absent.

2) Involucre, 11-14 mm.

3) Peduncles, of terminal capitula slightly thickened at apex.

4) Pappus-scales, 1/10-1/8 as long as achene.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Roadsides, field margins, wasteland, occasionally in meadows and open

woodland. 0-1100 m.

Distribution:- Widespread and common across the Mediterranean. Widespread and

common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Mainly June-Sept.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton