Rush skeletonweed is a perennial forb that can grow up to 4 feet tall. Its coarse-looking, multiple stems appear leafless because its leaves are small and lance-shaped; its upper leaves are inconspicuous. The lower 4 to 6 inches of stem is covered with downward-bent, coarse brown hairs after the plant has bolted. The perennial grows close to the ground as a rosette before bolting, similar to the common dandelion, and both stem and leaves produce a milky sap when broken.

It mostly invades dry rangelands in the western United States, where it displaces native species and reduces forage for livestock and wildlife. Rush skeletonweed is native to regions of Europe, Asia and Africa and was accidentally brought to the United States as a contaminant of fodder in 1914.

The plants overwinter as rosettes and begin flowering in early summer. Flowers are small (¾ inch in diameter) and bright yellow. Flowering continues until fall frost with mature, healthy plants producing as many as 1,500 flower heads and up to 20,000 seeds. Rush skeletonweed produces a main taproot that is up to 10 feet deep. Its numerous lateral roots can create new plants, and damaged roots also may produce new plants.

Herbicide treatments have proven most effective at controlling rush skeletonweed. Apply 5 to 7 fluid ounces of Milestone^® specialty herbicide per acre as a ground application using an ATV at the rosette to early bolt stage (1- to 4-inch flower stalks) for spring treatments. This rate is also effective as a spot foliar treatment using a backpack sprayer. Fall applications are also very effective as late as possible right before rainy season or winter.

Treated sites should be checked annually for new plants, and re-treated if necessary. Milestone is a selective herbicide, so it will control rush skeletonweed, while allowing most native grasses to flourish, which offers another measure of control against future infestations.

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When treating areas in and around roadside or utility rights-of-way that are or will be grazed, hayed or planted to forage, important label precautions apply regarding harvesting hay from treated sites, using manure from animals grazing on treated areas or rotating the treated area to sensitive crops. See the product label for details. State restrictions on the sale and use of Milestone apply.
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