Description:
This herbaceous perennial ranges from one to four feet tall, with a taproot reaching down seven feet, or more. The seedlings have a long thin taproot. Rush skeletonweed overwinters as a rosette of hairless, basal leaves that are two to five inches long and 1⁄2 to 2 inches wide and broader at the tip. The lateral lobes point back toward the base - very similar to a dandelion. The mature plant consists of a dark green, nearly leafless flowering stem, with many aerial branches. The basal rosette is absent at this stage. The stem and aerial branches support a few leaves, which are narrow and linear, and mostly entire. A distinguishing characteristic of rush skeletonweed is the presence of coarse, downward pointing brown hairs near the base of the stem.

• Mechanical: Any mechanical damage to the plant stimulates new growth, often resulting in satellite plants. Root fragment regeneration depths varied with fragment size and soil type, with sandy soils producing regeneration from greater depths than clay soils. Cultivation as a control method can be considered on seedlings less than 36 days old, as they are unable to develop roots from root fragments (Old 1981). Frequently mowing rush skeletonweed plants infested with and impacted by the gall mite (Eriophyes chondrillae) may decrease the rate of spread of this plant (McLellan 1991).
• Biological: The interior areas of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, with their cooler temperatures, do report the establishment of biocontrol agents. However, rush skeletonweed continues to spread through range and forested lands. In 1995, a program was implemented to research rush skeletonweed’s native Eurasia for more effective biocontrol agents for these cooler climates (Markin and Quimby 1997).
• Herbicide: Different forms, or biotypes, of rush skeletonweed may affect the susceptibility rates of herbicides. Research is continuing into this topic (Heap 1993). Rush skeletonweed is a deep rooted, rhizomatous perennial, considered tolerant to herbicides (Prather 1993). Control with herbicides requires an aggressive follow-up program with repeated applications. Site specific conditions must be taken into consideration. Check rates and applications with the Pacific Northwest Weed Control Handbook. Refer to the State Noxious Weed Control Board site

For More Information:
Detailed information about Rush Skeltonweed is available at the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board Web Site.