Much branched, up to 4 feet in height. Lower 4-6 inches of stems are covered with coarse brown hairs.
Basal leaves have a dandelion-like rosette that withers as the plant matures.
Fruit body ribbed, smooth below with scaly projections above. Rush skeletonweed is a perennial that grows from a stout taproot. It has a stiff and bare appearance. It spreads primarily by seed, although roots scattered during cultivation may also sprout. Pulling stimulates growth.