Goat's Beard

Goat's Beard (Tragopogon) is a genus of plants of the natural order Compositæ. The common Goat's Beard (T. pratense), also known by the name Go-to-bed-at-noon, from the circumstance of its closing its flowers about mid-day, is an abundant native of Britain. The plant is erect, the flower stems about 18 inches high, the root leaves 5 to 8 inches long, stem leaves shorter, with a dilated base, glabrous and slightly glauconous. The peduncles are long, thickened at the summit, and the flower-heads yellow. It is biennial, and the roots, if taken before the flower-stems shoot up, and boiled, resemble asparagus in flavour, and are said to be nutritious. In some parts of France the fresh juice of the young stems and leaves is believed by the common people to be an excellent solvent of bile. Salsify (T. porrifolium), also a native of Britain, is cultivated in gardens for the sake of its esculent roots, which are esteemed by some.