ˈsalsəfē, -ˌfī noun
( -es )
Etymology: French salsifis, from Italian salsefica, salsefrica, alteration of sassefica, sassefrica, from Late Latin saxifrica, any of various herbs, from Latin saxum rock + -i- + -frica (from fricare to rub) — more at sax , friction
: a European biennial herb ( Tragopogon porrifolius ) with long-peduncled heads of purple ray flowers and a long fusiform edible root — called also oyster plant, vegetable oyster