Cichorium intybus L.

Cichorium intybus

Family: ASTERACEAE
Genus: Cichorium
Species: intybus L.
Common names: Chicory
Pharmacopoeia Londinensis name: Cichorium, Intybus
Distribution summary: N.Africa, W.Eurasia
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Habitat: Grassy sites: meadows, pastures, roadsides
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Pharmacopoeia Londinensis 1618 'Seeds & Grains' (HSE 7)
Flowering months: July, August, September, October
Reason for growing: Medicinal
British Native: Yes

Additional Notes

OTHER COMMON NAMES: BLUE SAILORS; BARBE DE CAPUCHIN; BLUE DANDELION; BUNK; COFFEE WEED; FRENCH ENDIVE; SUCCORY; WITLOOF; WHITLOOF.

The Royal Horticultural Society Horticultural Database, available at www.rhs.org.uk

Cichorium intybus L., Asteraceae. Chicory, succory. Distribution: Uses: 'Cichory, (or Succory as the vulgar call it) cools and strengthens the liver: so doth Endive' (Culpeper, 1650). The Cichorium sylvestre, Wilde Succorie, of Gerard (1633) and the leaves cooked into a soup for ill people. Linnaeus (1782) reported it was used for Melancholia, Hypochondria, Hectica [fever], haemorrhage and gout. Root contains 20% inulin, a sweetening agent. Dried, roasted and ground up the roots are used as a coffee substitute, best known as Camp coffee (Chicory and Coffee essence). This used to be sold in tall square section bottle with a label showing a circa 1885 army tent with a Sikh soldier standing and serving coffee to a seated officer from the Gordon Highlanders. The bottle on the label has now moved on, and since 2006 it shows the same tent but the Sikh and the Scot are now both seated, drinking Camp coffee together.

Oakeley, Dr. Henry F. (2013). Wellcome Library notes. Link

Africa, Northern Africa, Tunisia

Asia-Temperate, Caucasus, Transcaucasus

Asia-Temperate, Middle Asia, Kazakhstan

Asia-Temperate, Middle Asia, Kyrgyzstan

Asia-Temperate, Middle Asia, Tadzhikistan

Asia-Temperate, Middle Asia, Turkmenistan

Asia-Temperate, Middle Asia, Uzbekistan

Asia-Temperate, Russian Far East

Asia-Temperate, Siberia

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Afghanistan

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Cyprus