Oregon Public Broadcasting

Officials in Malheur County are warning that a noxious weed that’s prevalent in Idaho appears to be gaining inroads in Eastern Oregon.

The Rush Skeleton weed is native to the Mediterranean and has been spotted in Oregon for at least 25 years. But Malheur County Weed Commissioner Gary Page, says this year Eastern Oregon experienced a “mini explosion” of Rush Skeleton.

The plant is a deep-rooted perennial and spreads much as a dandelion does.  The wind can carry the seeds up to 50 miles.

Page says one of the reasons for concern is the Rush Skeleton’s ability to crowd out native grasses on rangeland.

Gary Page: “The whole ecosystem gets changed because of that and it starts all the way from insects that lives in those natural desert scenarios and it just goes all the way up the chain to big game to the predators. Everything gets affected.”

Page also says the weed poses a threat to agriculture.

Rush Skeleton has been spotted among potato and onion crops. 

Page says in both rangeland and farmland, the weed is difficult and expensive to control.