Chicory Essay

Marking criteria | Marks | 1. Origin. | 1 | 2. Morphology. | 1 | 3. Picture. | 1 | 4. Geographical distribution | 1 | 5. Active constituents | 1 | 6. Uses. | 2 | 7.References | 1 | 8.Market preparation | 1 | 9.Turnitin report | 1 | 10. Total | 10 |

Origin Chicory is native to the Mediterranean region or, possibly, eastern India. It was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans and was cultivated in Egypt over 2000 years ago. The botanical name is Chichorium intybus and its Indian name is Kasni. The Coffee-tree Chicory is a plant belonging to the family of Cinchonacea.
Morphology
It is a large erect bush, quite smooth in every part; leaves oblong lanceolate, acuminate, and shining on the upper side, wavy, deep green above, paler below; stipules subulate, undivided, Corollas white, funnel-shaped, sweet-centered, with four or five oblong-spreading twisted lobes. Fruit a compressed drupe, furrowed along the side, crowned by the calyx. The seeds are solitary, Plano-convex, with a deep furrow along the flat side. It is a perennial herb with a long tap root. It has condensed, round stems, numerous light or dark green leaves and pale blue flowers. The leaves have a bitter taste; flowers open at sunrise and close at dusk.
Chicory flowers contain a glucoside chichorin and bitter substances, loactucin and intbin. Seeds contain bland oil and roots contain nitrate and sulphate of potash, mucilage and some bitter principle.

When to Plant
Chicory can be planted by seed either indoors or directly outdoors in the garden. For ideal germination, stratify seeds before planting. Plant these seeds outdoors mid to late spring about 10 inches apart.
Sun and Soil
Preferring to grow wild, the chicory plant has no specific soil requirements. It does, however, prefer full sun. The plant grows best on a well-drained loam soil, and it is important that it be free