Skeleton weed

General description

Biennial or perennial herb < 80 cm tall. Taproot is deep. Leaves are < 10 x 2 cm and form basal rosette. Flowering stems are almost leafless. Flowerheads are yellow and borne in December – March. Achenes bear pappus and are borne in late summer – autumn.

What you need to know

To help protect our environment:

• You must not breed, distribute, release or sell skeleton weed within the Auckland region.
• You must not plant skeleton weed within the Auckland region, unless you are transferring an existing plant on your land to another location within the boundaries of the same property.
• You must destroy any skeleton weed on land that you occupy if it has been planted in breach of the above rules and you are directed to do so by an authorised person.

Habitats

Disturbed sites, roadsides, dry riverbanks, cropland, pasture, wasteland.

Dispersal

Seeds dispersed by wind and attachment to animal pelts. Vegetative spread from root fragments. Human-mediated dispersal through contamination of clothing and machinery.

Impact on environment

Potential to invade over-grazed pastures, vineyards and cereal crops.

Control

Site management

Maintaining good pasture cover can prevent establishment or suppress an infestation. Prevent overgrazing especially in summer. Other herbicides are available for selective use in pasture.

Recommended approaches

Physical control

Method: Dig or grub out at least the first 5cm of taproot.

Plant parts requiring disposal: Seeds.

Disposal options: Remove to greenwaste or landfill if practical.

Biocontrol

Biocontrol is currently not available for this species.

Community agrichemical control recommendations

No qualifications: Foliar spray with 100ml glyphosate green per 10L of water.

Certified Handler/Experienced agrichemical user: Foliar spray with 100ml glyphosate green per 10L of water and 20ml penetrant.