White Salsify – Tragopogon porrifolius

Tragopogon porrifolius usually follows a biennial cycle: a leaf rosette and fleshy taproot precede the flowering stem. The purple or mauve heads consist of ray florets and later form a large feathery pappus that helps disperse the fruits. White salsify refers to the root-based common name, not white flowers. It is distinct from yellow-flowered scorzonera. The catalogue average is 95 seeds per gram, a useful reference when comparing bulk quantities.