Erect, unbranched, herb to 40 cm high, possibly renewed annually from thickened persistent rootstock; stems several, glabrous or glabrescent. Leaves virtually glabrous, margins flat to revolute, entire; basal leaves more or less linear, 5–13 cm long, 1–5 mm wide, petiolate, base amplexicaul with a conspicuous tuft of long hairs, apex acute; cauline leaves linear, 1–8 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, sessile, stem-clasping, apex acuminate. Capitula hemispherical, mostly 15–25 mm diam., usually solitary; peduncles 4–8 cm long; involucral bracts with linear, glandular claws; lamina more or less ovate, scarious, virtually flat, smooth, shiny, apex retuse or obtuse; intermediate bracts 7–12 mm long, with claws shorter than the lamina; inner bracts long-clawed. Florets bright yellow; ray florets 20–30, 10–20 mm long; disc florets numerous. Cypselas 2–2.5 mm long; pappus bristles 20–40, shortly connate at base, 5–8 mm long. Flowers Sep.–Nov.
MuM, Wim, MuF, CVU. Apparently endemic to Victoria where found mainly in the Wimmera and Riverina regions. Habitat is uncertain, but may be Allocasuarina luehmannii/Eucalyptus microcarpa woodland on heavy non-calcareous soils.
There are few collections of this species, the most recent of which was made in 1986 (near Rupanyup). It is most likely critically endangered or possibly extinct.
In general appearance Podolepis laevigata resembles P. linearifolia, but differs mainly in the intermediate involucral bracts having an obtuse apex and broader claws, and the rosette leaves having conspicuous tufts of axillary hairs.
