Skeleton Weed

Chondrilla juncea

Family: Asteraceae.

Form: Herb

Origin: Native of Europe, Asia, north-western Africa.

Flowers/Seedhead: Flowerheads solitary or 2 or 3 together, 1–2 cm wide, shortly stalked or without a stalk (sessile); consisting of 9–12 small flowers (florets) per head. Flowers summer and autumn.

Description: Perennial herb to 1.2 m high. Plants with deep taproot and creeping roots that may form new plants. Leaves in rosette lobed, usually hairless, 4–20 cm long, 1.5–5 cm wide; narrow-leaf, broadleaf and intermediate-leaf forms are recognised in Australia, primarily based on shape of basal leaves, leaves die early in the flowering period and plants are then virtually leafless over summer.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by skeletal appearance; milky latex from all parts; leaves mainly in basal rosette with fewer no reduced leaves on flowering stems; all florets yellow and strap-like; bracts around flowerheads in 2rows, outer bracts minute; seeds brown, ribbed, cylindrical, 8–10 mm long including hair-like beak 5–6mm long, that is surrounded at the base by 5 or 6 spreading scales; apex of hair-like beak with a row of white bristles 6–7 mm long.

Dispersal: Spreads by seed, pieces and new rosettes from lateral roots.