Perennial, 6–20(–30) cm high, several-stemmed from base, stems simple or branched; young stems glandular, with sparse or scattered, short, coarse spreading eglandular hairs. Leaves linear to narrow-ovate in outline, 8–30(–40) mm long, 1–8 mm wide, usually with 1–3 pairs of acute, narrow lobes, surfaces with scattered coarse simple hairs, mainly on margins and midribs, rarely glabrous; apex acute. Involucral bracts oblong, the longest 6–8 mm long, virtually glabrous, but margins often ciliate; ray florets purplish, ligules 1.5–2.5 mm long. Cypsela narrowly cuneate, 3.5–5 mm long, flattened, marginal ribs glabrous, facial ribs continuing to summit, faces evenly covered with inclined, blunt hairs mostly in grooves, glands absent; pappus bristles barbellate, the longest 5.5–7.5 mm long Flowers mostly Nov.–May.
VVP, VRiv, GipP, Gold, CVU, NIS, EGU, HSF, HNF, MonT, VAlp. Also Qld, NSW, ACT, Tas. Locally common in dry foothill forests, woodlands and grasslands in the east, rather rare in similar situations near Melbourne (e.g. Research, Woodend, Brisbane Ranges).
