Cichorium intybus

Taxonomy

Family

Asteraceae

Genus

Cichorium

Species

intybus

Nomenclature Melissopalynology

Classifier

Distribution

Cosmopolitan

Utility

The whole plant is edible and it is widely used in numerous cooked or raw dishes. The roots are cooked, roasted, ground, and used as an additive. It has long been cultivated in Europe as a coffee substitute. Numerous medicinal uses in traditional medicine, phytotherapy and Bach flower remedies. It is an excellent forage. Roots are used for the production of biomass and alcohol instead a blue dye is obtained from the leaves. Flowers are an alternative to herbal compost activators or to speed up bacterial activity. The plant is an accumulator gathering minerals from the soil to store them in a more bioavailable form. Used as fertilizer and mulch. It provides a good contribution to the production of Blossom and Unifloral honey. Insect shelter and biodiversity.