SALSIFY

salsify

(noun) either of two long roots eaten cooked

salsify, oyster plant, vegetable oyster, Tragopogon porrifolius

(noun) Mediterranean biennial herb with long-stemmed heads of purple ray flowers and milky sap and long edible root; naturalized throughout United States

salsify, oyster plant

(noun) edible root of the salsify plant

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

salsify (usually uncountable, plural salsifies)

(countable, uncountable) Any of several flowering plants, of the genus Tragopogon, most of which have purple flowers.

Tragopogon porrifolius, a plant with linear leaves; cultivated for its light-skinned edible root and herbal properties. Known in particular as "white salsify" among other common names

(countable, uncountable) Scorzonera hispanica, a plant similar in flavor to T. porrifolius, with lanceolate leaves; cultivated for its dark-skinned edible root. Known in particular as "black salsify" among other common names

(uncountable) The edible root of these plants.

Source: Wiktionary

Sal"si*fy, n. Etym: [F. salsifis.] (Bot.)

Definition: See Oyster plant (a), under Oyster.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition