SafePlants

Rush Skeletonweed

Chondrilla juncea, commonly known as rush skeletonweed, is a perennial forb belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae). Other common names include gum succory, hogbite, and naked weed.

Considerations for Pets

• Rush skeletonweed contains milky sap.

Considerations for Children

• Rush skeletonweed contains milky sap.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Chondrilla juncea L.
• Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
• Synonyms: The text mentions *Lygodesmia juncea*, however, it seems this is a synonym for *Lygodesmia pincea* (a central North American perennial composite weed) instead of *Chondrilla juncea*.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to Eurasia, extending from Western Europe and North Africa to central Asia and the Mediterranean region.
• Introduced to Eastern North America around 1872.
• Currently infests several million acres of rangeland and cropland in the western United States.
• Prefers well-drained, light soils.

Ecological Role

• Considered a noxious and invasive weed in many regions, including the western United States and British Columbia (Canada).
• A threat to irrigated lands, wheat areas, and rangelands.
• Infestations displace native and beneficial forage species.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Erect, branched perennial herb growing to a height of up to 1.2 meters (approximately 4 feet), though smaller in stature in some regions like Montana.
• Has a deep taproot, up to 2.5 meters in the soil, and creeping roots that may form new plants.
• Aerial growth dies in autumn, with new rosettes appearing in autumn and winter.
• Starts as a rosette, with leaves that resemble a dandelion.
• Branched stems that appear leafless. The lower 4 to 6 inches of the stems may be covered with coarse hairs.
• Yellow flowers, about 3/4 inch in diameter with 7 to 15 petals, bloom from July through September.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Rush skeletonweed can be affected by rust, which appears as pustules on the leaves.
• Biological control methods, such as the use of *Bradyrrhoa gilveolella*, are employed for managing infestations.

Quirky Facts

• Juvenile rush skeletonweed plants can resemble a dandelion.
• The name "skeletonweed" refers to the skeleton-like appearance of the stems.
• In the Arapaho language, one name for this plant translates to "milk making."

Further Information

• Weed Science (wsweedscience.org)
• California Invasive Species Council (cal-ipc.org)
• Pacific Northwest Extension Publication &#8226 Pnw 465, Washington State University