Erect or ascending, few-branched annual to 5–22 cm high. Stems wiry, slightly cobwebbed to glabrescent. Leaves somewhat cobwebbed, basal ones few, elliptic to oblanceolate, 1–4 cm long, to c. 15 mm wide, soon withering; cauline leaves lanceolate, 1–4 cm long, to c. 7 mm wide, base amplexicaul, apex acute. Capitula hemispherical to campanulate, 3–7 mm diam., few in loose cymes, shiny; peduncles mostly 1–4 cm long; involucral bracts broadly ovate, minutely erose-ciliate, straw-coloured, often bluish distally, smooth, apex acute; intermediate bracts c. 4 mm long, with curved linear glandular claws; inner bracts with broad, thickened oblong claws adhering to form a rigid leathery cup, lamina small, scarious, triangular. Florets all tubular, yellowish; outer florets 3–7, female, sterile; inner florets 18–40, bisexual, slightly longer than involucre. Cypselas c. 1.5 mm long; pappus bristles only on bisexual florets, 5–13, shortly connate at base, 2–3 mm long. Flowers Aug.–Oct.
In Victoria, known only from a single location near Lake Tyrrell in the north-west where found in chenopod scrubland on gypseous clay loam.
Common at the only known Victorian locality.
