Growth Habit: Herbaceous perennial.

Leaves: Lance-shaped, deeply lobed, 2-5 inches long.

Stem: One or more, 20-60 inches long with multiple spreading or ascending light green branches, smooth except for the lowermost 2-3 inches, which are densely covered with stiff, downward-directed hairs.

Flower: Terminate flower-heads individually or in groups of 2-3. Each flower head contains 10-12 bright yellow florets. Flowers are self-fertile.

Roots: Taproot.

Seeds: About 3mm long, pale to dark brown and vertically ribbed with scales & tooth-like projections at the tufted end.

Reproduction: Seeds, root cuttings, rosettes from the root crown.

Habitat: Open, waste areas with disturbed soils, along roadsides and in unimproved pastures.

Biological Controls: Skeletonweed gall midge (Cystiphora schmidti), Skeletonweed gall mite (Eriophyes chondrillae), Rush skeletonweed rust (Puccinia chondrillina).

Herbicides: None used in Yellowstone County at this time.