Cichorium L.

Greek kikhorion — the classical name for Cichorium intybus L

Annual, biennial or perennial herbs, glabrous to hairy. Stems erect or ascending, branched. Leaves basal and along stems, alternate, margins toothed to divided. Capitula 'radiate', terminal and axillary, solitary or a few together, with or without stalks. Involucral bracts in 2 rows, overlapping, unequal. Receptacle flat. Florets all bisexual, ligulate, blue, purplish, white or pink. Achenes obovoid, 3-5-angled, glabrous. Pappus of 1 or 2 rows of minute scales.

Two species have become minor weeds in Australia.

Often bluish ligulate florets; few sessile or shortly stalked capitula in axils of reduced leaves or terminal.

6 species from the Mediterranean region and SW Asia.

Source: Jeanes, J. (2002). Asteraceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

Hero image
kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Asteranae
order      Asterales
family       Asteraceae
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
species         Cichorium intybus L.