Skeletonweed, Rush Skeletonweed

Lygodesmia juncea (Pursh.) D. Don ex Hook.

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

▲ ▼ mature, flowering plants

▲  basal stem leaves

▲ ▼ flowers and buds

▲ ▼ flowers and buds

▲  fruit

Skeletonweed, Rush Skeletonweed:  (pp. 162-163 of Weeds of the Great Plains; not in Weeds of Missouri)

·         a much-branched, native creeping perennial plant of dryer soils with almost bare, light-green stems

·         grows 4-24 inches tall; leaves are scarce, linear, often dropping in dry periods

·         flowers are about 0.5-1” diameter, pink

·         grazed when small, but not grazed when older due to green, milky, bitter sap; may be toxic if grazed in greater quantities

·         occasionally seen in Missouri; more common west of Missouri