Plant ID

Will look more into it later but the flower form reminds me of Lactuca, Cichorium?

Looks like a Tragopogon, possibly the highly variable Purple Salsify, T. porrifolius.

That is a very interesting thought...

Here's Tragopogon eriospermum (syn. Tragopogon porrifolius ssp. porrifolius) (see link, below), which looks very similar;.  It usually has bracts that extend beyond the petals (although there's one photo that's anomalous).

http://crdp.ac-besancon.fr/flore/Asteraceae/especes/tragopogon_porrifolius_porrifolius.htm

Tragopogon eriospermus

Okay, revising my thoughts after more looking around...

I think it's a Scorzonera, closely related to Tragopogon, and that it's likely Scorzonera suberosa, possibly ssp. suberosa: 

http://www.vanherbaryum.yyu.edu.tr/flora/famgenustur/ast/sco/sub/index.htm

http://www.vanherbaryum.yyu.edu.tr/flora/famgenustur/ast/sco/sub/images/Scorzonera-suberosaC.jpg

http://www.franz-alpines.org/g_scorzonera_suberosa.html

Here are some discussion and links from the SRGC forum:

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=6359.0

Thank you Lori.  It is such an interesting and beautiful plant.

Good sleuthing Lori!  I was racking my brain last night, because I have one that looks like the plant in question, and very similar leaves, so rather than go outside last night with a flashlight and fend off armies of mosquitoes, I ended up thinking Tragopogon, the plant I have is actually a Scorzonera :-)  Looking at The Plant List, there are many species of Scorzonera, suberosa looks like a good one.

Your Tragopogon suggestion, a close relative, was the clue!  No idea, without that.

Serendipitously, the plant I had bought as Scorzonera suberosa is in bloom today! Please excuse this small disaster area, a spot where I stored (hoarded?) lots of small pots from annual NARGS seedling sales (most plants only 50 cents each, lol), where most of the young plants languish for years, most of them die.  The original plant labeled as Scorzonera suberosa died a couple yar ago but left a few seedlings, that come into bloom quickly. Very narrow silvery foliage, stems to 12" tall, and those enormous dandelion "seed puffs".  I have no idea if this species is correct, haven't researched it.

Mark:

Those are great pictures.  When I was at the Botanic Garden I was more focus on the flower, but the thread like leaves make the plant interesting even out of bloom.  I am going to have to keep a look out for this one!