Scorzonera is a genus of the sunflower family (Asteraceae

Asteraceae

The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...

), subfamily Lactucoideae, tribe Lactuceae, subtribe Scorzonerinae.

It comprises about 100 species, the best-known of which is the edible black salsify

Black salsify

Scorzonera hispanica, black salsify or Spanish salsify, also known as black oyster plant, serpent root, viper's herb, viper's grass or simply Scorzonera, is a perennial member of the genus Scorzonera in the sunflower family , cultivated as a root vegetable in the same way as some of the members of...

 (Scorzonera hispanica). Scorzonera tau-saghyz produces rubber

Rubber

Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...

.

Scorzonera is recorded as a food plant for the larva

Larva

A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...

 of the Nutmeg

Nutmeg (moth)

The nutmeg , also known as the clover cutworm, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found throughout Europe although in the north of its range it is a summer migrant, not being able to survive the cold winters.This is a small to medium species with cryptically coloured forewings, varying from...

, a species of moth

Moth

A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...

.

Species

• Scorzonera acanthoclada
• Scorzonera albicaulis
• Scorzonera argyria
• Scorzonera aristata
• Scorzonera austriaca
• Scorzonera crocifolia
• Scorzonera exile : Mock Oyster Wild Salsify
• Scorzonera gokcheoglui
• Scorzonera hispanica: Black Salsify
  Black salsify
  Scorzonera hispanica, black salsify or Spanish salsify, also known as black oyster plant, serpent root, viper's herb, viper's grass or simply Scorzonera, is a perennial member of the genus Scorzonera in the sunflower family , cultivated as a root vegetable in the same way as some of the members of...
  
  , Spanish Salsify, Viper's-grass, Black Oyster Plant
• Scorzonera hissaricata
• Scorzonera humilis
  Scorzonera humilis
  Scorzonera humilis, English name Viper's-grass, is a very rare perennial plant found only in Dorset, Warwick in England, and South Wales, in moist meadows.-Description:...
  
  - Vipers Grass
• Scorzonera judaica
• Scorzonera laciniata  : Cutleaf Vipergrass, Laciniate Viper's-grass
• Scorzonera macrocephala
• Scorzonera mollis
• Scorzonera mongolica
• Scorzonera papposa
• Scorzonera parviflora
• Scorzonera pinnatifida
• Scorzonera pisidica
• Scorzonera pseudolanata
• Scorzonera ptilophora
• Scorzonera purpurea
• Scorzonera racemosa
• Scorzonera rosea
• Scorzonera schweinfurthii : Egyptian Scorzonera
• Scorzonera suberosa
• Scorzonera tau-saghyz, which produces rubber
  Rubber
  Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
  
  
• Scorzonera tragapogonoides
• Scorzonera tuberosa
• Scorzonera turkestania
• Scorzonera undulata
  • Scorzonera undulata deliciosa
• Scorzonera virgata

Etymology

The word Scorzonera derives from the Italian "scorza" (= bark) and "nera" (= black). A second explanation could come from Old French, where "scorzon" means "snake". Black Salsify has been used a long time to treat poisonous snake bites.