# Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion And Salsify Tribe (*cichorieae*)

The Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion and Salsify Tribe are vibrant plants that can be found in gardens and meadows. They are known for their tasty leaves and colorful flowers that attract friendly pollinators!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Habitat:** These plants thrive in gardens, fields, and sunny meadows.
- **Also known as:** Dandelion Greens, Salad Greens, Wild Greens

![Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion And Salsify Tribe](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cichorium_intybus_Slovakia.jpg&width=800)

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Hippocampus~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cichorium_intybus_Slovakia.jpg)

## Appearance

The Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion And Salsify Tribe has composite flowers made only of strap-shaped ray florets, often in shades of bright yellow, blue, or white. Many species form a basal rosette of leaves and produce a milky white sap when broken, which makes them visually distinct.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Magnoliophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Lactuca, Cichorium, Taraxacum, Tragopogon

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Egyptians grew lettuce for its leaves and for the oil from its seeds!
- Dandelion fluff can travel for miles on the wind to find new homes!
- Salsify roots can be surprisingly long, reaching deep into the soil for water!
- Some chicory plants have bright blue flowers that only open for one day!

## Special abilities

- **Milky Sap Shield:** Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion And Salsify Tribe has milky sap that can deter hungry creatures, helping them defend against munching pests.
- **Wind-Powered Travel:** Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion And Salsify Tribe can spread its seeds far and wide with tiny parachutes, helping them colonize new places.
- **Deep Water Seekers:** Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion And Salsify Tribe has strong taproots that dig deep, helping them find water and nutrients in dry soils.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-150 cm
- **Spread:** 10-80 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring_to_fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Helps flowers create seeds.
- **Eaten by:** [European rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — Feasts on leaves and young plants.
- **Eaten by:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Snails munch on tender greens.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion And Salsify Tribe?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion And Salsify Tribe?

5-150 cm

### How wide does Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion And Salsify Tribe spread?

10-80 cm

### How big are the flowers on Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion And Salsify Tribe?

0.5-5 cm

### When does Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion And Salsify Tribe bloom?

Spring_to_fall

### Is Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion And Salsify Tribe edible?

Yes

### Is Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion And Salsify Tribe toxic?

None

### What is Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion And Salsify Tribe's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Peace Arch Historical State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peace-arch-historical-state-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Lettuce, Chicory, Dandelion And Salsify Tribe Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lettuce-chicory-dandelion-and-salsify-tribe)
