Goatsbeard, Yellow goats beard
Tragopogon pratensis

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A tall herb. It can be an annual or grow for some years. It can have some hairs. The stems are usually not branched. It grows 70 cm tall. The stems grow upwards from a large taproot. The leaves are narrow and have a channel along them. The leaves on the stem partly clasp the stem. These leaves taper to a fine point. The flower heads are pale yellow. Each flower contains 8 sword shaped bracts. The fruit are round and fluffy. They are made up of several small nutlets. Each one has small feather like bristles.

There are about 50 Tragopogon species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in waste places and along roadsides. in Argentina it grows from sea level to 500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zone 9. It can tolerate some frost.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Europe, France, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, India, Inner MOngolia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Poland, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Türkiye, USA, West Indies

How it is used for food

The root has been used as a famine food. They are boiled for 20 minutes. The tender young leaves are eaten raw or boiled for 5 minutes. They are also used in soups. The flowering stems and buds are cooked and eaten.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Edible parts

Roots, leaves, vegetable, stems, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown by seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Barba di becco, Barbabouch, Barbouch, Bucks-beard, Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon, Kohv, Kozi brada lucni, Kozibrod meadow, Kozobrad, Lecherin, Meadow salsify, Piimhain, Showy goatsbeard, Travniška kozja brada, Yangnaizi, Yellow salsify

Synonyms

Possibly now Tragopogon lamottei L.;