Cichorium endivia L. (S-Eur.) – A regular but always ephemeral alien, usually an escape from cultivation, relic or throw-out (sometimes also as a birdseed alien). Already collected prior to 1850 but early collections possibly represent cultivated plants. Nowadays much less cultivated as a vegetable and apparently decreasing as an alien as well. It is usually found on dumps, along worked-up road verges or waste land. In 2011 Cichorium endivia was seen in relative abundance on gravelly banks of river Maas in Limburg.
Cichorium endivia is a variable species. The crop plant has often curled leaves and belongs to var. crispum Lam.
Selected literature:
Schnedler W. (1977a) Pflanzen, von denen in der Mitteleuropäischen Literatur selten oder gar keine Abbildungen zu finden sind: Cichorium endivia L. in Trifolium alexandrinum-Äckern. Gött. Flor. Rundbr. 11(4): 96-97.
Schnedler W. (1977b) Pflanzen, von denen in der Mitteleuropäischen Literatur selten oder gar keine Abbildungen zu finden sind. Folge VIII. Berichtigungen zu Cichorium endivia L. Gött. Flor. Rundbr. 11: 97-102.