Vegetable Oyster is a common name for the plant Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius), which is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family. It is native to the Mediterranean region and is cultivated as a vegetable crop for its edible roots. The roots are long, slender, and white, and have a mild, sweet flavor. The leaves and flowers are also edible, and the plant has been used medicinally for centuries.