chicory, chicon, endive
I was harvesting "chicory" leaves for the food co-op, but what I had was red-veined dandelion-looking leaves and not the white chicon/witloof/endive of which I assumed "chicory" to be the translation.
Cichorium intybus is its latin name, and is indeed in the same family as dandelions (Asteraceae). The difference, though, is in the cultivars - chicon/witloof/Belgian endive have blanched buds, the ones I was harvesting were probably "Italiki Rosso" that are good for its salad leaves, and the var. sativum are harvested for its roots (chicory root).
Cichorium intybus is its latin name, and is indeed in the same family as dandelions (Asteraceae). The difference, though, is in the cultivars - chicon/witloof/Belgian endive have blanched buds, the ones I was harvesting were probably "Italiki Rosso" that are good for its salad leaves, and the var. sativum are harvested for its roots (chicory root).
