Cichorium intybus L.

Spice Flower In the field

Family: COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)

Genus: Cichorium

Catalan common name: Cama-roja. Mastegueres. Xicòria. Xicòria amarga. Xicòria de cafè.

Spanish common name: Achicoria. Amargón.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Holoartica

Uses and properties: Aphrodisiac. Edible or foodstuffs. Medicinal.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Path and road sides.

Characteristics: In our flora there are few Compositae species with blue flowers, this one is without doubt the most frequent; it becomes common in more or less humanized places, and can also grow in farmlands. Chicory is a herb which forms a rosette of basal flowers, these flowers are edible when they are tender. When it flowers it forms lots of branches which branch out again several times, these branches have very small leaves and may seem leafless. Large, blue clearly visible capitula open out on these. It flowers at the beginning of summer.