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Tragopogon pratensis
Herbaceous plant growing in tufts, with a narrow and long leaves, and forming a large yellow flowerheads (3 to 4 cm of diameter) of Asteraceae type. Backs of the yellow petals of the outside range of flowers or "rays" or striped black. One of the english names is "Showy goat's-beard", a direct translation from the genus latin name (tragos = male goat; and pôgôn = beard). We find the same kind of name in french (Barbe de bouc) or croatian, bosnian and serbian (Kozja brada). The name was apparently given because the flowerheads close around midday, and hang downwards, resembling goat beards.
Seen in a grasslands on hills above Mtskheta, a township close to Tbilisi.
The plant is edible, and young shots and roots appreciated as salads, while mature roots are harvested in autumn (but I don't know how they are consumed).
Spotted on Apr 21, 2019
Submitted on May 2, 2019
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