Salsify? Scoronera?

I've been studying my seed catalogs trying to pare down my growing choices for next season.  I've seen salsify listed many times, but root vegetables have never been particular favorites of mine, so I just keep turing the page.  But for some reason this year it dawned on me that I don't have a clue what salsify is and I'm supposed to be such a big promoter of heirloom vegetables.  How could I condemn salsify and scorzonera to oblivion?  I couldn't.  So here's Salsify 101.

It looks like a dandelion above ground, but that's not the part you generally eat.  Salsify (Trogopogon porrifolius) is a biennial plant with a long, thick, white taproot that is reported to taste similar to oysters, giving it it's nickname of "The Oyster Plant".    Scorzonera (Scorzonera hispanica) is very similar to salsify.  They both belong to the Asteracae or sunflower family, but are entirely different species.  The scorzonera plant is usually shorter than salsify. Its taproot has a dark outer skin with white inner flesh which is usually finer textured than salsify. The leaves can be used as a salad green when young. You may sometimes see the pair listed as white salsify (Trogopogon porrifolius) and black salsify (Scorzonera hispanica).  You probably won't see either in your local grocery store, since there are no commercial salsify growers in the U.S.  For photos check out Rutgers University's site and The University of California's Small Farm Center.

Both plants hail from the Mediterranean region and it is there that you will find them most popular.  They are used much like carrots in stews and soups, sautéed as a side dish or eaten cold in a salad.  While salsify has the nickname, both plants have a flavor likened to oysters.  They are also sometimes likened to asparagus and artichokes and one reference thought they had a hint of coconut.  Artichokes I can understand, since they are also in the same family.  Never yet having tasted either, I'll have to report back next fall.

Both can be started from either seed or root division, in early spring.  They require a long growing season, 120 - 150 days.  Salsify seedlings look like blades of grass, but the mature plant can reach 2 - 4 feet tall with long pointed leaves that can reach a foot in length themselves.  The flower stalk bears