Chicory

Description:

Common chicory, a member of daisy and dandelion family Asteraceae, is perennial herbaceous plant, producing sky-blue flowers on a woody stems of 40 to 80 cm tall. Leaves from basal rosette look alike the leaves of dandelion - elongated, some 15 cm long with rounded tops. The Chicory has many uses (see below) and many names, like blue daisy, blue dandelion, blue sailors, blue weed, bunk, coffeeweed, horseweed, ragged sailors, succory, wild bachelor's buttons, and wild endive...

Habitat:

Seen in a protected zone of Krka NP - here, Krka river forms a series of waterfalls and lakes; and the river is surrounded by a magnificent dense broad-leaved forest. Its shores are rich in vegetation; both wetland and dryland.

Notes:

Wild chicory has many uses; and some modern varieties are cultivated accordingly. The leaves of wild chicory can be used as salad (slightly bittery taste, not unlike roquette); or as spinach substitute. Elongated leaf buds are also known as Belgian endive. Flower buds are blanched to chicons; while the root can be used as coffee substitute. The essential oils from Chicory are used in traditional medicine; and the plant is also cultivated as forage.