Short Description
Meadow salsify can grow to a height of 70 cm.
The leaves grow alternately on the stem. They are narrow linear with elongated tips.
The stem bearing the flower head is hollow and can be slightly thickened at the upper end.
At first glance, the flower head can be mistaken for the flower itself. This pseudanthium (“false flower”) is made up from numerous individual yellow ray florets. The flower heads are enclosed by green bracts that are about as long as the flowers.
The seeds are small beaked nuts with a ring of feathery hairs.
Features
Meadow salsify
Tragopogon pratensis
milky sap
stem hardly thickened below the flower head
In the city
Meadow salsify is often found on nutrient-rich meadows and in weed-covered gardens. It prefers warm, moderately fresh, semi-shady and nutrient-rich sites.
Fun Facts
The flower heads of the yellow salsify open early in the morning and already close at lunchtime.
Young shoots can be prepared like asparagus.
The sugar-containing leaves can be eaten raw in salads.
It flowers from May to July.
The umbrella-like hairs on the fruits are particularly large, can fly far and thus serve to spread over greater distances.
- Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
Meadow salsify is closely related to black salsify. Its root is also edible.
Sources
Habitus, Archenzo, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TragopogonPratensisFlowers.jpg
Blütenstand, Fritzelblitz, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tragopogon_pratensis_flower.jpg
Fruchtstand, Ejdzej, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tragopogon_pratensis-Ejdzej-2006-C.jpg
Fleischhauer, S. G., Guthmann, J. & Spiegelberger, R. (2007) Essbare Wildpflanzen. 200 Arten bestimmen und verwenden, Baden und München: AT Verlag.
Lippert, W. & Podlech, D. (1993) GU Naturführer. Blumen: die wichtigen Blütenpflanzen Mitteleuropas erkennen und bestimmen, München: Gräfe und Unzer Verlag.
Schauer, T., Caspari, C. & Caspari, S. (2015) Der illustrierte BLV-Pflanzenführer für unterwegs. 1150 Blumen, Gräser, Bäume und Sträucher, München: BLV.
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