Barry Popik cites: >Pg. 195: The buds of Tragopogon or asparagi are also very good in >Salades, wholesome & diuretick. (OED has 1706 for "Tragopogon"--ed.)< ~~~~~~~~~~ The buds of /Tragopogon/ *are* yummy, but they ain't asparagus in today's sense. Tragopogon, literally goat's beard, is actually called "goatsbeard" or "oyster plant." A. Murie