Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Cichorium intybus L. var. foliosum, Cichorium intybus L. var. sativum
Other common names
French endive succory
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Introduced
Lifecycle
Biennial or perennial
Height
40 inches
Riparian
No
Biennial or perennial herb, stems erect and branching, to 40 inches tall, stems rough with stiff hairs, with a deep-seated taproot, blue, pink or white ray flowers.
Taprooted; stems branch; mostly basal leaves, stem leaves alternate, lower leaves with saw-toothed margins that point toward the plant base or stem; flower heads on stems that rise above the foliage, ray flowers only, rays blue, pink or white.
Habitat
Found in disturbed areas and along roadsides.
Plant Community
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
4000
High elevation
7000
Flower Characteristics
Flower heads on stems that rise above the foliage, ray flowers only, rays blue, sometimes pink and rarely white. Flower head about 1-1/2 inches wide in bloom. Petals lightly ribbed lengthwise and saw-toothed at outer edge.
Flower color
Blue, pink or white
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems erect, branching, to 40 inches tall, rough with stiff hairs. Leaves lance-like but narrow at the base, alternate, mostly basal, 4 to 8 inches long, 1/2 to 3 inches wide. Stem leaves smaller, clasping, with toothed margins.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
Yes
Leaf hairs
Stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Small hard 1-seeded fruit, 1/16 to 1/8 inch long, egg-shaped with the narrower end at the base. 5-angled, without hairs; very short (< 1/16 inch) bracts form a short, toothed crown in 2 to 3 series at the base of the disc flowers.
Fruit type
Achene