John 241-0002--Tragopogon porrifolius--Fairmount Ridge--10 May 1996

Description:

Tragopogon porrifoliussalsify. The bud stage of salsify. Sources say that Tragopogon translates from Greek as "goat's beard", one of the many common names for this plant. Sources also say that the cooked parsnip-shaped root tastes like oysters, thus giving the plant another common name. An introduction from Eurasia, it as been naturalized long enough to be included in ethnobotany references as a Native American food. Photographed at Fairmont Ridge, Anthony Chabot Regional Park, San Leandro, CA.