Chondrilla juncea L.
Rush skeletonweed is a tap-rooted perennial originally from Eurasia that can vary significantly in height from 1-4 feet tall. This plant prefers well-drained, light-textured soils which are abundant in Jackson Hole. Leaves grow primarily from the base of the plant and appear similar to young dandelions. The plant contains a milky sap, and the stem of a bolting plant has dark-colored, downward-pointing hairs. The yellow flowers are small, generally about 1” or less in diameter; flowering occurs continuously from June until the first frost.
This plant is very difficult to control, considering it has very little surface area for a contact herbicide to affect. It is highly invasive with plumed seeds that are wind dispersed over large distances. In the Pacific Northwest, rush skeletonweed has infested millions of acres. In Teton County, very few plants have been encountered and they all have been treated.
If you find this weed on your property or around Teton County, please report it immediately at 733-8419
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