Erect or ascending, virtually glabrous annual to c. 25 cm high; stems branched. Leaves oblanceolate to lanceolate in outline, mostly 2–6 cm long, 10–20 mm wide, pinnatisect with pinnatifid segments, base stem-sheathing and pinnate; pinnae linear-subulate, acute, mucronate, usually toothed. Capitula 6–8 mm diam., terminal and axillary; peduncles slightly exceeding leaves at anthesis, slender; involucral bracts many, oblong, 2–3 mm long, glabrous, margins often purplish. Female florets usually fewer than 8, 1-seriate, corolla c. 0.5 mm long; bisexual florets numerous, corolla c. 1 mm long. Cypselas of female florets oblong, 1–1.5 mm long, flat, glandular, winged; cypselas of bisexual florets narrow-oblong, 1–1.5 mm long, plano-convex, smooth, margins narrowly ridged. Flowers Aug.–Dec.
LoM, MuM, Wim, VVP, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF, GipP, OtP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, HSF. Also naturalised WA, SA, NSW. Native to South Africa. Widespread, particularly in northern and north-western Victoria, often in moist saline areas. .
