Western Yellow Salsify, Tragopogon dubius

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Western Yellow Salsify

Asteraceae
Tragopogon dubius

gardengeek

Asteraceae Family

Tragopogon Genus

Location

This plant was found in Utah.

Physical Description

Annual or occasionally biennial forb. The plant forms a seed head that resembles that of the dandelions but is distinctly larger. The seeds themselves (known as achenes) are featherweight, weighing about 8 mg each on average.

Western Yellow Salsify, Tragopogon dubius - YouTube.com

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Asteraceae

Asterales

Star Order (Daisies)

Euasterids II

Real Stars Group Two

Asteridae

Class of Stars (Daisies)

Core Eudicots

Main, Real, Two First-Leaves (Dicots)

Eudicots

Real, Two First-Leaves (Dicots)

Mesangiospermae

Half Capsule Seed Division

Magnolia Division

Seed Plants

Real Land Plants

Multiple Spore Sub-Kingdom

Stomatophytes

Air Pores Sub-Kingdom

Embryophytes

Multicellular Land Plants

Streptobionta

Multicellular Plants

Plantae

Plants

Eukaryota

Cells with a Nucleus

General Information

Could be Tragopogon porrifolius

Similar to the Meadow Salsify, T. pratensis, but the bracts which show behind the flower, a distinctive feature of salsifies, are longer and more noticeable.
The flowers open early in the morning and often close up by late afternoon. Later the plant forms a seed head that resembles that of the dandelions but is distinctly larger.
AKA: Western Goat's Beard, Wild Oysterplant, Yellow Salsify, Yellow Goat's Beard, Meadow Goat's Beard, Goat's Beard, Goatsbeard, Common Salsify, or Salsify.

The whole plant can be eaten raw the whole year long. It would appear to be bitter, but it is not, neither is the milky white sap, which usually is an indicator to stay away, but in this case is good to eat. The bloomed flower buds are very mild and sweet. Premature flowerbuds have a radish flavor.

The root can be eaten raw, or cooked like a yam or potato. They look like giant carrots, and break easily when pulled. A shovel is useful in harvesting the roots.

To grow Salsify, blow some Salsify seeds around your yard. Let the seeds float and land where they want. Or you can just lay them on top of an area, and hope for the best. If you try to plant them, they usually don't grow.