It’s Monday! Do you know what that means? Another week of I Spy in the Sea to Sky!
Photo Credit: L. Scott
With stems tall and wiry,
I boast a boney frame,
Farmers seem to hate me,
As my roots are hard to tame!
You may have guessed Hawksbeard, a common mistake when identifying… Rush Skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea)!
Rush Skeletonweed is a perennial forb in the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family. Introduced from southern Europe, it has spread quickly both by seed and vegetatively from roots. In fact, root segments as small as 2.5 cm can produce new plants, aiding their widespread distribution in rangelands, roadsides, and disturbed habitats.
Interestingly, there are at least three forms of Rush Skeletonweed in North America. While morphological and physiological characteristics differ, identification may prove challenging. You can distinguish Rush Skeletonweed by its many-branched, wiry stems (up to 1.3m tall); coarse, reddish downward-pointing hairs at the base of the single flowering stem; and small yellow flowers that produce plumed seeds. In addition, the rosette leaves resemble Common Dandelion and are hairless with deep, irregular teeth that point back toward the leaf base.
Photo Credit: L. Scott
Rush Skeletonweed is a particularly troublesome weed for farmers. It reduces crop yields, lowers land value and clogs up machinery with its milky latex sap. To make matters worse, control may be difficult due to its extensive and deep (2+ metres) root system. Luckily, Rush Skeletonweed is not widely distributed within the region. Indeed, as SSISC’s Invasive Plant List denotes, we look to eradicate infestations in Pemberton and prevent establishment in Whistler and Squamish. Thus, it’s important that new infestations are identified early. Report any sightings here.
I Spy in the Sea to Sky Contest
Guess the invasive species in our I spy in the Sea to Sky, posted every Monday, June through August, to enter the giveaway. Once a month, one lucky commenter will win a packet of native flowers seed mix.
Contest Rules:
- Comment your guess on either Instagram or Facebook to enter
- 1 entry per person per post
- Anyone can play, but only residents of the Sea to Sky region are eligible to win
- Entry will close at 11:59 PM PST on the last day of each month (in this case June 30th)
- Winners will be announced on the first business day of the next month (July 5th) and contacted via their platform of entry
- This giveaway is in no way sponsored or endorsed by Instagram or Facebook
Good luck!
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