Stem

  • Multiple, up to 4 ft. tall and highly branched; contains white, milky sap
  • Lacks hair (glabrous) except lower 4-6 in. which is covered with coarse, downward-pointing, reddish-brown hairs
Photo of rush skeletonweed stem

Leaves

  • Rosette leaves resemble dandelion; 2-5 in. long, 0.5-2 in. wide and lack hair; edges (margins) are irregular with shallow lobes and are often purplish; rosette leaves usually wither at bolting
  • Stems have very few leaves; typically narrow with smooth edges; inconspicuous
Photo of rush skeletonweed

Flower

  • Yellow; 0.75 in. wide; 7-15 linear petals with toothed tips; can be alone or in small clusters scattered along branches
  • Seed tipped with a white, parachute-like pappus that allows it to be spread by wind
Photo of rush skeletonweed

Root

  • Deep taproot and shot creeping lateral roots
Photo of rush skeletonweed

Other

  • Grows best in well-drained soils; often infests roadsides, rangelands and waste areas; not known to occur in Nevada
  • Perennial; reproduced by seed and roots
 

Control

  • Repeated hand-removal of individual plants (including roots) and frequent tillage are effective
  • Several biological control agents are available
  • Apply 2,4-D, clopyralid, dicamba, glyphosate, or picloram to actively growing plants; apply aminopyralid or imazapyr pre- or post emergence
Peer Review Logo
Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Rush skeletonweed, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide

Extension Associated Contacts

Heidi Kratsch
Heidi Kratsch
 

Also of Interest:

 
Principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
An outline of the principles and best practices of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
 Hefner, M. 2019, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno. IP
 

Associated Programs

Master Gardeners at tabling event

Master Gardeners of Nevada

Program trains local gardeners to provide research-based horticulture information to Nevadans.

master gardener team sitting on tractor

Master Gardeners of Washoe County

Master Gardeners provide free, research-based horticulture information to Nevadans.

Garden plant and pest sprayers image by Olga Seifutdinova from Getty Images

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a strategy that reduces pests to tolerable levels with lower costs for the pest manager or home gardener and minimal effect on the environment. The IPM program at University of Nevada, Reno Extension focuses on identification and public education with resources for the community including classes, Spanish language resources and a pest directory.