HPIPM:Chicory

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Superorder	Asteranae
Order	Asterales
Family	Asteraceae
Subfamily	Cichorioideae
Tribe	Cichorieae
Genus	Cichorium

Scientific Name

Cichorium intybus

Common Name

chicory

Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

Compiled by Lowell Sandell, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

and Marjolein Schat, Montana State University from the following sources:

http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/singlerecord.asp?id=920

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CIIN

Identification and Life Cycle

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a non-native in the sunflower family (Asteraceae). Chicory has many common names including blue daisy, blue sailors, blue weed, coffeeweed, common chicory, cornflower, hendibeh, horseweed, ragged sailors, succor, wild bachelor’s buttons, wild endive, and witloof. Plants produce a thick, deep, sturdy taproot containing a very bitter and milky juice. The erect, round, hollow, nearly leafless stems produce stiff spreading branches that can grow 1 to 5 feet tall. Lower portions of stems are hairy. Upper portions are generally without leaves making stems appear straggly. Stems exude a milky sap if cut. Rosette leaves are 2 to 6 inches long, oblong or lance-shaped, and covered with rough hairs on both the upper and lower surfaces. Margins of basal leaves are either deeply dissected with pointed lobes or they may be shallowly toothed. Stem leaves are small, sparse, alternate (1 leaf per node), lance-shaped, and clasping. Stem leaves have smooth or slightly toothed edges. The showy flowers are clustered in heads that are 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide, short-stalked or stalkless, and borne in clusters of 1 to 4 on the upper branches. Each flower head consists of many individual, bright blue, petal-like flowers that are squared-ended and toothed. The single-seeded fruits are about 1/8 inch long, dark brown, wedge-shaped, and 5-angled.

Habitats

Chicory is suited to well-drained or moderately drained soils with medium- to high-fertility levels and a pH of 5.5 or greater. Chicory is found along roadsides, railroads, disturbed sites, waste ground, and cultivated fields.

Impacts

Chicory is listed as a noxious weed in several states, but is also a relatively new forage crop.

Biology and Ecology

Chicory reproduces by seeds and initially grows as a rosette of irregularly-toothed basal leaves. Then, later in the season, leafless stems emerge with sky-blue daisy-like flowers scattered along their length. Flowers open each morning and close as sunlight increases in intensity around noon. Only a few flower heads open at a time and each head opens only for a single day. Flowering occurs from June through September. The average plant produces about 3000 seeds.

Biological Control

There are no biological control agents currently available for chicory.

Mechanical and Cultural Control

Chicory does not compete well against competitive grasses or other cover crops. Chicory will re-grow after mowing, but does not withstand deep tillage.

Chemical Control

Several chemical control options are available for suppression and control of chicory. For herbicide recommendations for specific grain rotations and weeds in Montana, please see the MSU Herbicide Chooser Tool.

Examples of herbicides that can be used to manage chicory

Consult herbicide labels for additional rate, application, and safety information. Additional herbicide information can be found at http://www.greenbook.net.

Due to constantly changing labels, laws and regulations, the sponsors of this web site assume no liability for the suggested use of any chemicals noted in the management section. Contact your local pest management personnel for current information on labeled pesticides that can be used for the intended plant disease, insect pest or weed.

References

For more information and images please visit IPM Bugwood. http://www.invasive.org/search/action.cfm?q=Cichorium%20intybus&Start=1&results=38