Tragopogon porrifolius is a biennial herb 40-100 cm tall from a taproot, sap milky, plant hairless.
Leaves alternate, to 30 cm long, 2 cm wide, linear, tapering from base.
Flowers purple, all rays, bracts of flower head 8, in one row, 2.5-4 cm long, often longer than ray flowers, elongating to 4-7 cm in fruit, flower stalk inflated below heads; blooms May-July.
Fruit a dandelion-like head of achenes each 2.5-4 cm long, the body 1-1.5 cm long abruptly contracted to a long, slender beak; plume brownish..
Wetland status: NL.
Frequency in NYC: Very infrequent.
Origin: Europe.
Habitat: Escaped from cultivation. Usually in moist soil.