Scorzonera radiata is a plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Siberia, Mongolia, and northeastern China. The genus name Scorzonera derives from the Italian scorza nera (“black bark” or “black rind”), referring to the dark outer appearance of the edible root. Some sources also trace the term to the Old French word scorzon, which denotes a venomous snake; historically, the plant was used as an antidote for snake bites, hence the common name viper’s grass.