Cichorium intybus, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 304-305

1. C. intybus L. , Sp. Pl. 813 (1753).

Glabrous or with subrigid hairs. Perennial with long, stout taproot. Stems 30-120 cm,

erect, with rigid, patent-ascending branches. Basal leaves 7-30 x 1-12 cm, oblanceolate, runcinate-pinnatifid to dentate, shortly petiolate; cauline with fewer teeth or entire, sessile, amplexicaul. Peduncles of terminal capitula slightly thickened at apex. Involucre 11-14 x 4-10 mm; outer bracts c. 8, broadly lanceolate, patent at apex; inner bracts c. 5, twice as long as the outer and narrower, erect. Ligules bright blue, rarely pink or white, 3 times as long as involucre. Achenes 2-3 mm, irregularly angular, pale brown; pappus-scales f as long as achene. 2n — 18. Much of Europe, but doubtfully native in most of the north. Formerly cultivated as a medicinal plant, and more recently as a coffeesubstitute andfor ornament, and widely naturalized. All except Fa Is Sb, but only casual or doubtfully naturalized in Fe Hb No Rs (N).

The cultivated plant is larger in all its parts, with more handsome flowers.