Name given to two plants of the Compositae family. White salsify is the common name for Tragopogon porrifolius. Its white roots are boiled and eaten with melted butter, cream or cheese, or used in soups and stews. Leaves are also eaten, in salads. Black salsify or scorzonera is Scorzonera hispanica, the edible root of which has black skin and white flesh. It is used in the same way as white salsify. Both plants are also known as oyster plant.