Types of grassland. Not all grassland is the same. Some grasslands, such as those of the Solway merse, Hebridean machair or Caithness cliffs are natural. These have evolved to withstand immersion by floods and tides, or exposure to winds and salt-laden storms.Base-richâ soil is formed from rocks like limestone, serpentine and old red sandstone. Like them it is rich in calcium and other âbasesâ and supports plants which are âlime-lovingâ. This type of soil is uncommon in Scotland, and the base-rich grasslands it supports are of limited extent.
Endive is closely related to and often confused with its cousin, chicory. There are three main varieties of endive: Belgian endive, curly endive and escarole. Belgian endive (also known as French endive or witloof) is a small (6 inch) cigar-shaped head of cream-colored, tightly packed slightly bitter leaves. Belgian endive is grown in complete darkness to prevent it from turning green. Curly endive, often mistakenly called chicory in the US, grows in loose heads of lacy, green-rimmed outer leaves that curl at the tips. The off-white center leaves form a compact heart.
Once cooked, curly endive loses some of its bitterness. Therefore, you can, for instance, steam it, drizzle it with olive oil and lemon juice and season it with cinnamon. Add chopped curly endive to a bean soup just before serving and let it barely wilt. Saute the curly endive and then add to mashed potatoes.