Tragopogon porrifolius L.

Biennial with cylindric rootstock. Stems erect, weakly ribbed, glabrous or sometimes with sparse cobwebby tomentum above, 30-100 cm tall. Lvs linear-to lanceolate-subulate, entire, acuminate, 5-30-(40) × 0.5-1.5-(2) cm; base sheathing; margins undulate or flat. Capitula solitary; peduncles swollen beneath capitula (> 5 mm thick at fruiting). Involucre glabrous at base; involucral bracts 6-8, lanceolate-acuminate, 3.5-6 × 0.5-1 cm at fruiting, glabrous, or tomentose near apex. Corolla mauve to purple, < involucre. Achenes fusiform, ribbed, the outer coarsely muricate, the inner becoming smooth; body 8-13-(15) mm long; beak < or up to 2× length of body, barely clavate at apex. Pappus sordid, 1.5-2 cm long, plumose, in 2 rows, seated on a distinct tomentose annulus.

It is a temperate plant. It grows in the highlands in the tropics. It does best in light well-drained soils. It needs an open sunny position. It is resistant to drought and frost. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

The white roots are eaten boiled, baked or in soup. The young leaves are edible. They can be eaten raw or used to flavour other foods. (Cut pieces quickly discolour before cooking unless stored in water with a little lemon juice added.) The roasted roots have been used as coffee substitute the same as chicory. The hardened juice from broken stems can be chewed. The latex can be used as milk.

Plants are grown from seed. They are normally sown direct and thinned out if needed. Plants if left for a second year flower and seed easily and become self sown. In temperate places it grows over 2 years. In the first year it produces thickened roots then in the second year it flowers and seeds.