Perennial, rhizomatous or stoloniferous herb to 40 cm high; flowering stem hirsute, stellate-pubescent, with glandular hairs. Leaves elliptic to oblanceolate, hirsute, stellate-pubescent; margins entire; apex acute; base cuneate; basal leaves 1–12 cm long, 5–20 mm wide. Capitula solitary, rarely 2 or 3,1.5–3 cm diam.; involucre hemispherical to obconical, 7.5–15 mm long; bracts linear-lanceolate, yellow-green, with stellate, glandular and occasionally eglandular hairs. Florets 60–130, pale lemon-yellow, often with abaxial red stripe; ligules 8–15 mm long. Cypselas cylindric, 1.5–2 mm long, black; pappus 4–5 mm long. Flowers summer.
VAlp. Native to Europe. Known in Victoria from one site on the Bogong High Plains at Pretty Valley. This infestation was sprayed and the species has not been collected in Victoria since.
Pilosella officinarum is a troublesome and widespread weed in several overseas countries with similar alpine or cool climates as the Victorian Alps, including New Zealand, USA and Canada. In Victoria P. officinarum has been declared a state prohibited weed.
