572 sturtevant's notes on edible plants 



seeds are eaten like hazelnuts and, although reputed somewhat laxative, are considered 

 wholesome.' 



Trachycarpus fortune! H. Wendl. Palmae. 



China. The clusters of yoimg flower-buds are eaten in China in much the same 

 way as bamboo sprouts.'' 



T. martianus H. Wendl. 



Himalayan region. The fruit is eaten, though the pulp is scanty and almost taste- 

 less.* 



Tragopogon crocifolius Linn. Compositae. 



Mediterranean countries. This species is enumerated by Pliny * among the esculent 

 plants of Egypt, and Sprengel ^ says the root is edible. 



T. porrifolius Linn, oyster plant, salsify, vegetable oyster. 



Mediterranean countries. The roots are long, white and fleshy, tapering like the 

 parsnip but never attaining the same diameter. The roots are used, boiled or fried, and 

 the flavor is mild and sweetish and reminds one of the oyster, whence its name oyster 

 plant. Mcintosh ' says that, when dressed as asparagus, there is some resemblance in 

 taste and that the flower-stalks, if cut in the spring of the second year before they become 

 hard, and dressed like asparagus, make an excellent dish. The roots, says Burr,' thinly 

 sliced, are sometimes used as a salad. 



In the thirteenth century, Albertus Magnus * describes a wild plant, Oculus porce 

 or flos campi, which commentators identify with the salsify, as having a delectable root, 

 which is eaten, but he makes no mention of cultivation. Salsify is described, but appar- 

 ently not imder kitchen-garden culture, by Matthiolus in 1570 and 1598 ^ but it is not 

 mentioned by him in 1558, when he refers to the yellow-flowered species; there is no men- 

 tion of salsify culture by Camerarius 1586, but, in 1587, Dalechamp'" says it is planted 

 in gardens. In 1597, Gerarde " describes it but apparently as an inmate of the flower 

 garden. In 1612, Le Jardinier Solitaire speaks of salsify as tmder kitchen-garden culture 

 in France; and Dodonaeus,'^ 1616, J. Bauhin,'' 1651, and Ray,** 1686, refer to it as appar- 

 ently cultivated. After this period its culture seems to have been quite general as it is 



' Hanbury, D. Sci. Papers 234. 1876. 



> Smith, F. P. Contrib. Mat. Med. China in. 1871. 



'Brandis, D. Forest Fl. 547. 1874. 



* Pickering, C. Chrort. Hist. Pis. 361. 1879. 

 'Ibid. 



Mcintosh, C. Book Card. 2:228. 1855. 



'Burr, F. Field, Card. Veg. 52. 1863. 



' Albertus Magnus Veg. Jessen Ed. 546. 1867. 



Matthiolus Comment. 379. 1570. 



" Dalechamp Hist. Gen. PI. (Lugd.) 1079. 1587. 

 "Gerarde, J. flerJ. 596. 1597. 

 " Dodonaeus Pempt. 256. 1616. 

 " Bauhin, J. Hist. PL 2:1059. 

 " Ray Hist. PL 252. 1686. 



