Ecological characteristics:

Bitter endive, also known as gooseberry, glabrous, stems erect, 130-180 cm high, much branched, often purplish red. Basal leaves withered at flowering time, the lower leaves of the stem and the middle leaves are thin, rectangular-orbicular or oblong-ovate, 3-10 centimeters long, 2-40 centimeters wide, the apex is acute or obtuse, tapering into a short-stalked or sessile and embracing the stem, the edge of the margins have a varying depth of the teeth cracks. Capitate. Chunin inflorescences ca. 1.3-1.5 cm in diam. and rearranged into corymbs; involucres cylindrical, ligulate flowers yellow. Achenes fusiform, black-brown at maturity, beaked, crown hairs white.

Planting techniques:

1. In subtropical areas, endive is generally at the end of February to the beginning of March seedlings or return to the green. 9-November for the fruiting period, the seedlings born in the fall can be green leaf clusters overwintering, the reproductive period of 240 days or so; in the temperate zone, endive is generally in the April-May seedlings or return to the green, August-September for the fruiting period, the reproductive period of 180 days or so.

2. The regenerative power of endive is relatively strong, as long as the buds of the rhizome are not damaged, mowing or grazing does not affect its regrowth.

3. Endive can be planted in temperate, subtropical climatic conditions, preferring to be born in the soil moist roadside, ditch, scrub, forest edge of the meadow community, more scattered, the local can be the dominant species; the soil requirements are not strict, in the mild salinization of the soil is also growing well, in the acidic forest soil can also grow normally.

Utilization characteristics:

Endive in the pre-flowering, leaf stems tender green juicy, palatable, is a high-quality green forage. But after flowering, the basal leaves and lower stem leaves gradually dry up, stem and branch aging, palatability and grass quality is reduced, the flowering period of the stems and leaves are rich in crude protein and crude fat, low crude fiber content. Endive is suitable for mowing and grazing, mowing is the most suitable for green forage, grazing is the best before leaf clumping or branching. Endive young stems and leaves can also be used as vegetables to eat, can also be used as green manure.