Spiny chicory
Cichorium spinosum
Family: Asteraceae
What it is like
A small shrub. It is densely branched. It forms mounds. It can be 20 cm tall. The stems are branched from the base. The upper branches are non flowering and like spines. The leaves are fleshy and narrowly oval but broadest above the middle. They have teeth and lobes. The flower heads are blue and 10-15 mm across. They can occur singly or in clusters of 2-4. The outer flower bracts are oval and one third the length of the inner bracts. There are 5-6 florets in a flower head.
There are about 9 Cichorium species.
Where it is found
It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in rocky crevices and sandy places. It is usually near the coast.
Countries/locations it is found in
Crete, Europe, Greece, Italy, Mediterranean, Spain
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Stamnagathi, Yaloradiko