Looking like a spiky purple dandelion, the Tragopogon porrifolius become more obvious when the background vegetation begins to die back in early summer. The flower heads are composed entirely of ray florets surrounded by narrow lanceolate green bracts which are longer than the florets. After flowering the bracts close to το surround the developing seeds, they then reopen to reveal a globe of winged seeds, which may be up to 12cm or more in diameter.

The edible conical tap roots of this plant are known as salsify which is sometimes referred to as the vegetable oyster.