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Edible annual leafy plant () of the aster family. It is variously believed to have originated in Egypt and Indonesia, and it has been cultivated in Europe since the 16th century. The many kinds of endive form two groups: the curly or narrow-leaved endive (, variety ) and the Batavian, or broad-leaved, endive (, variety ), which is also called escarole. The former is used mostly for salads, the latter for cooking.
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