Yellow Salsify; Goat's beard (Tragopogon major), fam. Asteraceae.
The common name of the plant is obviously related to its compound fruits, constructed analogous to Dandelion, but several times larger in diameter – they are soft and fluffy, like goat's fur. The stems, however, are not similar to flexible dandelion peduncles: Goat's beard have straight, often quite high stems, covered with narrow leaves. The inflorescences follow the sun and are open only in the first half of the day.
The yellow salsify roots are not inferior to many known vegetables if the starch, inulin, protein content and other nutritional values are compared. Unfortunately, they contain too bitter latex to be actually used. The herb is a fodder for cattle.