Rush Skeletonweed

Native:

Skeletonplant (Lygodesmia juncea) has pink, occasionally white, flowers and grows in the southern interior of BC.

 

 

 

 

Rush Skeletonweed is native to Europe and Asia. It was initially reported in Washington in 1938 and was suspected to have been introduced as a contaminant of livestock fodder.

Rush Skeletonweed generally prefers well-drained and light-textured soils. It is best suited to areas with mild winters and warm summers. Rush Skeletonweed can be found in fallow and abandoned fields, along roadsides, and in disturbed areas.

Rush Skeletonweed spreads through both seed and vegetative methods. A single multi-stemmed plant can produce as many as 20,000 seeds. Rush Skeletonweed can form new genetically-identical plants from root fragments.

Rush Skeletonweed produces parachute-like seeds that travel easily by wind and water. Local dispersal generally takes place by root fragments which can grow into new plants. Rush Skeletonweed can also be spread by animals, humans, as well as in contaminated soil and seed mixes.

Rush Skeletonweed is currently found in Pemberton, but not in Whistler or Squamsih, so PREVENTION of further spread is key.

 

Learn to identify Rush Skeletonweed: use the images presented in this profile page to learn how to identify Rush Skeletonweed

What to do if you spot it: You can report any Rush Skeletonweed sighting by clicking here.

 

DO:

• Regularly monitor properties for weed infestations.
• Ensure soil and gravel are uncontaminated before transport.
• Check wildflower mixes to ensure that they do not contain Rush Skeletonweed.
• Ensure plants (particularly flowering heads or root fragments) are bagged or covered to prevent spread during transport to designated disposal sites (e.g., landfill).

 

DO NOT:

• Do not unload, park or store equipment or vehicles in infested areas; remove plant material from any equipment, vehicles or clothing used in such areas and wash equipment and vehicles at designated cleaning sites before leaving infested areas.
• Do not plant Rush Skeletonweed in a garden, no matter how well-contained its enclosure may seem.
• Do not move soil that has been contaminated with Rush Skeletonweed.
• Do not compost!

 

Control

Mechanical

• Regular mowing/tilling can prevent seed formation and deplete root energy reserves.
• Small infestations can be hand-pulled but the operation will need to be repeated, as any root fragment left behind will re-sprout.
• Any plant parts removed should be bagged and taken to a landfill.

Chemical

• Herbicides should be applied after the plant has bolted but before it sets seed.
• Repeated applications of a mixture of glyphosate and dicamba has proven effective; clopyralid and dicamba mixes have also been used to control Rush Skeletonweed.
• Lastly, picloram has been effective when applied to rosettes, but it is not suitable for wet, coastal soils.
• We recommend that any herbicide application is carried out by a person holding a valid BC Pesticide Applicator Certificate. Before selecting and applying herbicides, you must review and follow herbicide labels and application rates; municipal, regional, provincial and federal laws and regulations; species-specific treatment recommendations, and site-specific goals and objectives.

Biological

Some biological agents exist, including root-feeding moth (Bradyrrhoa gilveolella), gall-forming mite (Eriophyes chondrillae), leaf & stem rust (Puccinia chondrillina, Puccinia acroptili), and stem gall wasp (Aulacidea acroptilonica)