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Chondrilla juncea
Also called Chondrilla, Skeleton Weed, Gum Succory, Skeletonweed, Naked Weed, Nakedweed, Rush Skeleton Weed
Rush skeletonweed is a spindly, branching perennial weed that grows up to about a metre tall and spreads by seed and by root cloning. It is a noxious weed in most temperate regions outside its native range, so it is grown mainly as a wild or foraged plant rather than a garden plant.
Chondrilla juncea is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by a number of common names, including rush skeletonweed, gum succory, devil's grass, and nakedweed. The plant is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but it is known throughout most temperate regions of the world as an introduced species which is usually considered a noxious weed.
In the Greek island of Crete the leaves and the tender shoots of a local variety called ampelosyrida (αμπελοσυρίδα) or glykosyrida (γλυκοσυρίδα) are eaten raw or boiled in salads by the locals. The plant is also traditionally consumed by ethnic Albanians (Arbëreshë) in the Vulture area (southern Italy). Chondrilla juncea may have an anti-oxidant activity and some potential for medicinal use. XO-inhibiting activity shown by extracts of the aerial parts of the plant with potential benefits for hyperuricaemia and gout. In the eastern region of Turkey, chewing gum is obtained from the body of the plant.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Chondrilla juncea by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
