Chicory

Chicory
Chicory. Cichoria intybus.
Asteraceae, the daisy, sunflower or composite family.

Description:
Plant: Stiff, often branching stem rises 1'-4' from basal leaves, bearing several, blue, daisy-like, sessile flower heads.
Flowers: Blue to violet daisy-like heads, to 1.5", each with 15-30 ray flowers. Rays are square-tipped with 5 minute teeth. No disk flowers. Split, dark-blue styles. Flowers are stalkless, one to three in axils of small upper leaves.
Leaves: Basal leaves dandelion-like, lobed and toothed, 3"-6", upper leaves small, clasping stem, narrowly oval to lanceolate.
Fruit: Dry seeds in a shallow husk formed by the bracts of the flower head.
Blooming: June-October
Habitat: Fields, roadsides, often mixed with Queen-Annes lace.

Comments: Classic high-summer roadside flower. Generally only a few heads open on a stem each morning, and the flowers last only a day. Introduced from Europe, the plant is sometimes a weed, but is also appreciated for its edible properties. The classic use is to roast and grind the root, which can be used as a substitute for coffee. As a beverage this is good enough that it is sometimes sought on its own merits, and is even sold commercially in some areas. The young leaves can be boiled and eaten like dandelion leaves, having the same bitter qualities that can be reduced by cooking in several waters. Grown from harvested roots in the dark, the blanched leaves can be used as a bitter salad green.

Where to find it: Common in field and lawn areas throughout the park