Health benefits of Meadow Salsify

Genus name Tragopogon is derived from two Greek words. Tragos means goat and pogon means beard. Beard refers to the fuzzy seed head that is produced after flowering. The species name pratensis means “of the meadows” and refers to its typical habitat. Meadow salsify opens its blossoms at daybreak and closes them before noon, except in cloudy weather, hence its old country name of ‘Noon-flower’ and ‘Jack-go-to-bed at-noon’.

Meadow Salsify Facts

Plant Description

Meadow salsify is an annual to short lived herbaceous biennial or perennial plant that normally grows about 20–60 cm (9–24in) high and rarely 1m (39 in) from a perennial tap-root. The plant is found growing in weedy meadows, pastures, dunes, waysides, waste places, roadsides, disturbed sites, fields, mesic black soil prairies, woodlands, railroads, vacant lots, miscellaneous waste areas, road verges and field margins. The plant performs best in full sun, sandy, loamy, or clay soils and tolerates strong winds. It is intolerant to shade. Root is straight, conical in shape, which extends into the soil up to 30 cm deep; its diameter is up to 4 cm. The rhizomes are fleshy and edible. The root and buds are edible, and it has milky latex.

Stem

The stems are erect and usually branched near the top. They are often covered with a whitish, waxy bloom (glaucous). They usually have patches of white, woolly or cobwebby hairs when young and are hairless or almost hairless at maturity. The stems and leaves exude a milky sap when broken.

Leaves

Basal leaves are grass-like, linear, up to 12 inches long, and stalk less. They are rounded and wide at the base, up to ¾ inches wide, then abruptly narrowed and tapered evenly to the tip. They are occasionally strongly curved backward, often coiled, toward the tip. The upper and lower surfaces are usually glaucous. They are hairy with woolly or cobwebby hairs when young, and hairless or almost hairless at maturity. The margins are untoothed. Basal leaves are sometimes withered by flowering time.

Stem leaves are alternate. They surround the stem (clasp) at the base and are otherwise similar to basal leaves. They become progressively smaller as they ascend the stem.

Flower

Each flower head is about 2 inches across when fully open, consisting of numerous yellow ray florets and about 8 green floral bracts that are lanceolate-linear in shape. The ray florets spread outward from the center of the flower head. The outer florets are noticeably longer than the inner florets. Each floret has a truncated tip with 5 small teeth. At its base, there is a columnar reproductive structure consisting of a yellow divided style and black anthers that are appressed together around the middle of the style. The floral bracts extend to about the outer margin of the flower head; sometimes, they are a little shorter or longer than the width of the flower head. The flower heads open up during the morning and close again by the afternoon. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer and lasts about 1–1½ months.

Fruit

Each floret is replaced by an oblong seeds or achenes that have a long thread-like beak. They are 1 to 1.5 inches long and are attached to a fluffy tannish-white pappus with feathery bristles. These hairs are slightly plumose because they contain small hair-like branches. They are usually white at the base, but become dull brown toward their tips. Collectively, these achenes with their tufts of hair form a large spheroid ball that spans about 3–3½ inches across. Distribution of the achene is provided by the wind, and the plant reseeds itself.

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Health benefits of Meadow salsify

Listed below are some of the popular health benefits of Meadow salsify

1. Heart diseases

Tender shoots of the plant, in addition to being rich in gallic acid, contain rutin, a flavonoid that improves circulation and prevents capillary fragility, being indicated against hypertension and heart diseases. Research has concluded that the presence of certain doses of resveratrol, the same cardio-protective component found in grapes.

2. Respiratory system

Meadow salsify (roots and shoots of the plant) is very rich in Gallic acid, which has astringent and anti-bronchial properties. Syrup made from the root has been reported to be of great relief in cases of cough and bronchitis.

3.  Stomach acidity

As previously mentioned it is rich in Gallic acid, with astringent properties, it protects the stomach from acid damage.

4. Diabetes

Due to its inulin content, the root is suggested for diabetics. It is a type of fiber that regulates the absorption of sugars in the diet and at the same time helps to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. It is made up of fructose units, which do not increase blood sugar levels. It also improves intestinal health by acting as a prebiotic, helping to protect against certain types of cancer such as colon cancer.

5. Antioxidant

The intense green color of the plant, and the yellow of the petals, indicate a great wealth in beta-carotene and antioxidant flavonoids, which help improve the health of the body in general. It also provides caffeic, synapic and ferulic acid, antioxidants that protect from the harmful effect of nitrosamines, carcinogenic compounds that are formed in the body from tobacco smoke, some foods (like powdered milk), or food additives with nitrites.

6. Cancer

Meadow salsify is a source of phenolic compounds capable of protecting against some diseases such as cancer. One of its components is gallic acid, which promotes apoptosis or natural cell death, preventing the survival of tumor cells. Scientific studies have investigated this component against lung cancer and stomach cancer.

7. Good for the liver

Young shoots are considered a very healthy food for the liver. It consists of bitter principles that increase digestive secretions, resulting in an increase in appetite and improved digestion. All this indicates this plant in cases of loss of appetite (anorexia), lack of appetite, heavy or slow digestion, or a feeling of swollen belly after meals.

8. Purifying properties of meadow salsify

Due to its fiber content, it prevents constipation. It is a purifying spring vegetable because of its fiber content and cholagogue and choleretic properties, which encourage the production and release of bile from the body, helping to reduce cholesterol.

Traditional uses and benefits of Meadow Salsify

• Goat’s beard is considered to be a useful remedy for the liver and gallbladder.
• It appears to have a detoxifying effect and may stimulate the appetite and digestion.
• Its high inulin content makes this herb a useful food for diabetics.
• The root is astringent, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, nutritive and stomachic.
• Syrup made from the root gives great relief in cases of obstinate coughs and bronchitis.
• Decoction of the root is given in the treatment of heartburn, loss of appetite and disorders of the breast or liver.
• The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use.
• Fresh juice of young plants is said to be a good dissolver of bile, relieving the stomach without side effects.
• Plant extract has diuretic, purgative, astringent and expectorant properties and it is recommended for the treatment of arthritis, arteriosclerosis, rheumatism, hypertension and various skin problems.
• It is administered to stimulate gallbladder function, the appetite and the digestion.
• Root has astringent, diuretic and expectorant properties and it is used in the form of herbal tea for the treatment of persistent cough, bronchitis, heartburn and various liver disorders.
• Meadow Salsify is a good remedy for the liver and gall bladder – it has a detoxifying effect and may stimulate the appetite and digestion.
• Root has the ability to contracts tissue, purifies and cleanses the blood, induces urination, induces the removal (coughing up) of mucous secretions from the lungs, increases weight and gives strength and tone to the stomach.
• Syrup made from the root gives great relief in cases of obstinate coughs and bronchitis.
• Root is best harvested in the fall and dried for later use.

Culinary uses

• Root can be consumed raw or cooked.
• Roots have a sweet flavor due to their inulin content.
• Young roots can be eaten raw whilst older roots are best cooked like parsnips or salsify.
• They are often blanched before use.
• Young leaves and shoots can be consumed raw or cooked.
• They can be added to mixed salads or used in soups etc.
• Leaves are best used as they come into growth in the spring.
• Flowering stem, including the buds, is cooked and served like asparagus.
• Roots can be boiled and eaten like potatoes.
• Young shoots can also be used in diabetic salads.
• In Armenia, rural kids make bubble gum from the juice of meadow salsify.
• For this purpose, when milky juice is released from the torn stems it is collected on the walls of a glass and dried.
• Leaves are also edible and can be used as a green in salads, much like lettuce or spinach.
• Flowers and flowering shoots also have a similar taste to the leaves and can be used as a green or in salads.
• Whole flower is edible and there is no need to remove the bitter green part.
• Roots are somewhat sweet – young roots can be eaten raw and older roots should be cooked.
• Roots can be boiled and buttered, shredded and fried or sliced and baked.
• Stalks (with the buds, before they bloom) can be cooked like asparagus.
• Leaves can be sautéed lightly and added to soups, omelets and stir fries – or used fresh in salads.
• Long taproots can be dug up, ground, roasted and used as a coffee substitute.
• Young leaves and shoots may be served raw in salads or cooked in soups.
• The leaves taste best in the spring.

Precautions

• Use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist.
• Substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity.
• They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions.
• Never eat meadow salsify roots, flowers or flowering shoots raw
• Soak the root in water for fifteen minutes if not peeled prior to cooking.
• Soaking is not recommended for roasted meadow salsify roots
• Never eat the skin of the root if it is extremely tough
• Be sure to boil the root before eating it for at least ten minutes to remove the saponins.
• Never eat meadow salsify roots, flowers, or flowering shoots if you are pregnant or nursing.

References:

https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=38569#null

https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/g/goabea23.html

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Tragopogon+pratensis

https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/TROPR

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/gcc-36930

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragopogon_pratensis

https://plants.usda.gov/home/classification/41545

https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1345772

https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/yl_goatbeard.htm

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