Appearance
It is a thin, spindly plant which reaches a meter in height. It starts from a basal rosette of leaves and branches extensively, often forming a weedy thicket.It produces small daisylike flowers with rectangular yellow ray florets. The fruit is an achene about a centimeter long topped with a white pappus. It reproduces by seed but also by cloning itself at the root; tilling of soil and chopping up plants actually help this species disperse by sectioning and distributing root parts.
Uses
In the Greek island of Crete the leaves and the tender shoots of a local variety called ampelosyrida or glykosyrida are eaten raw or boiled in salads by the locals.The plant is also traditionally consumed by ethnic Albanians in the Vulture area. "Chondrilla juncea" may have an anti-oxidant activity and some potential for medicinal use. XO-inhibiting activity shown by extracts of the aerial parts of the plant with potential benefits for hyperuricaemia and gout.
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