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.
1. a composite plant, Cichorium endivia, having a rosette of often curly-edged leaves used in salads. 2. Also called Belgian endive. a young chicory plant deprived of light to form a narrow head of whitish leaves, eaten in salads or cooked.