Chicory

Description:

Non-native herbaceous biennial or perennial. When flowering, chicory has a tough, grooved, and more or less hairy stem, from 10"-40" tall. Leaves: stalked, lanceolate and unlobed. Flowers: 3/4"-1.5" wide, blue-lavender-white petals radiating from an miniscule disk. There are two rows of petals - the inner are longer and erect, the outer are shorter and spreading.

Habitat:

Disturbed sites.

Notes:

Range Native to Europe; now naturalized throughout continental North America, except Alaska and arctic Canada. Discussion Also known as: blue sailors, coffeeweed, succory. Considered invasive or a weedy in some places, and listed as a noxious weed in Colorado. Leaves of Cichorium intybus are sometimes used as salad greens; the roasted roots are sometimes ground and used as or in addition to coffee.