Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Family: Asteraceae

Status: Exotic
Synonyms:
None

Cichorium intybus is an exotic that is much more common in northern New Mexico than here in the southwestern corner. It has appeared along the roadside at middle elevation. The plants grow about two feet tall, and have sessile blue flowerheads that appear in clusters along the stems. The heads are ligulate, meaning that there are only ray flowers (like a dandelion) and no disc flowers (like the center of a sunflower) present. There are two distinct series of phyllaries, the outer one short and lanceolate, while the more numerous inner phyllaries are longer and thinner. The pappus is a crown of short scales.
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Cichorium intybus, photo Andy Anderson, along Hwy 15 near Copperas Vista, Aug. 1, 2015

Cichorium intybus, ligulate flowerhead, photo Andy Anderson, along Hwy 15 near Copperas Vista, Aug. 1, 2015

Cichorium intybus, sessile heads, photo Russ Kleinman, collected by Andy Anderson along Hwy 15 near Copperas Vista, Aug. 1, 2015

Cichorium intybus, clasping upper leaves, photo Russ Kleinman, collected by Andy Anderson along Hwy 15 near Copperas Vista, Aug. 1, 2015

Cichorium intybus, 5x macro of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, collected by Andy Anderson along Hwy 15 near Copperas Vista, Aug. 1, 2015

Cichorium intybus, flower bud with phyllaries in two series, photo Russ Kleinman, collected by Andy Anderson along Hwy 15 near Copperas Vista, Aug. 1, 2015

Cichorium intybus, ray floret and phyllary, photo Russ Kleinman, collected by Andy Anderson along Hwy 15 near Copperas Vista, Aug. 1, 2015

Cichorium intybus, phyllaries with glandular hairs near apex, photo Russ Kleinman, collected by Andy Anderson along Hwy 15 near Copperas Vista, Aug. 1, 2015

Cichorium intybus, pappus a crown of short scales, photo Russ Kleinman, collected by Andy Anderson along Hwy 15 near Copperas Vista, Aug. 1, 2015