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Rush Skeletonweed (gum-succory)
Asteraceae (= Compositae), the aster family
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Background
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 Rush Skeletonweed is a native of Eurasia. It generally
prefers well-drained, light soils. The plant spreads primarily by seed, but
roots scattered by cultivation can aid in spread.
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Description
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 Rush Skeletonweed is a
perennial whose branched stems
may be 4 feet tall and superficially appear leafless.
Basal leaves form a
dandelion-like rosette that withers as the flower stem develops. Stem leaves
are narrow and up to 4 inches long. The lowest 4 to 6 inches of the stem is
covered with coarse, brown hairs. Stems and leaves both produce a milky
latex. Yellow flower heads are 3/4 inch in diameter and are scattered among
the branches from mid-summer to fall. The seed is ribbed and bears a soft,
white plume.
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Distribution
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 Rush skeletonweed infests millions of acres in the
Northwest and California, including these Idaho counties.
CONTROL:
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Control
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Biological control agents (a stem/leaf rust, a bud gall mite, and a
stem/leaf gall midge) are available, occasionally providing good control of
rush skeletonweed. Herbicides, if applied consistently each year,
can control this weed after 3 to 5 years.
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© 1999 University of Idaho:
Text and photographs for these pages from Idaho's Noxious Weeds, by
Robert H. Callihan and Timothy W. Miller (revised by Don W. Morishita
and Larry W. Lass).
Please contact: Ag Publishing, University of Idaho, Moscow,
Idaho 83844-2240; 208 882-7982 visit the Resources for Idaho website at
http://info.ag.uidaho.edu, for more information about this or other
publications.
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