Chicory @ Lanaken Belgium

While riding my bicycle I saw a Common Chicory plant with beautiful blue flowers, so I stopped and took a few pictures.
Blue daisy, blue dandelion, blue sailors, blue weed, wild endive, bunk, coffeeweed, succory, hendibeh, horseweed, all different names for the same plant/flowers.
It's a woody, herbaceous plant that has a wealth of health benefits, including the ability to ease digestive problems, reduce arthritis pains, prevent heartburn, detoxify the liver and gallbladder, prevent bacterial infections, boost the immune system, and reduce the chance of heart disease. It is also a natural sedative, and can protect against kidney stones, and benefit attempts to lose weight. It's a powerful addition to any diet.
Anthocyanin pigments are present in the flowers and are responsible for the blue color. These molecular compounds (a class of flavonoid) are odorless, flavorless and considered by many to be a powerful antioxidant with a variety of health benefits.
Chicory is a very old crop plant that has through the centuries been used both as food and medicine. The flowers are also used for Bach flower remedies.

Bee @ work on a Chicory flower

camera: Samsung Wave II