Cichory Plants

The Cichorieae (also called Lactuceae) are a tribe in the plant family Asteraceae that includes 93 genera and more than 1600 sexually reproductive species and more than 7000 apomictic species. They are found primarily in temperate regions of the Eastern Hemisphere. Cichorieae all have milky latex and flowerheads that only contain one type of floret. The genera Gundelia and Warionia only have disk florets, while all other genera only have ligulate florets. The genera that contain most species are Taraxacum (Crepidinae subtribe) with about 1600 apomictic species, Hieracium with about 770 sexually reproducing and 5200 apomictic species, and Pilosella with 110 sexually reproducing and 700 apomictic species (both Hieraciinae). Well known members include lettuce, chicory, dandelion, and salsify.