Ascending annual or perennial, to c. 50 cm high, with scattered glandular and eglandular hairs. Leaves basal and cauline, oblong to c. spathulate in outline, 2–11.5 cm long, c. 5–20 mm wide, dilated basally, 1 or 2-pinnatifid or -pinnatisect, uppermost leaves reduced and entire. Bracts c. 15 or more, 1–2-seriate, c. equal, elliptic to narrowly elliptic or obovate to oblanceolate, 6.5–10.5 mm long, 1.5–4 mm wide, mainly herbaceous but with hyaline margins and apices, apices sometimes purplish, variably hairy with glandular and/or eglandular hairs, margins slightly denticulate with glandular hairs; ligules 9–18 mm long, white. Cypselas straight or slightly curved, oblong to cuneate, 1.5–2.5 mm long, 0.5–1.1 mm wide, brown or reddish-brown, tuberculate between the 2 smooth ridges, the tubercles ending in short, straight or slightly curved, simple eglandular hairs; marginal ribs more or less smooth; pappus 0.4–0.5 mm long. Flowers Aug.–Mar.
MuM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, MuF, GipP, OtP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, MonT, VAlp. Widespread from near sea-level to the alps, locally common in eucalypt woodland or forest, often on rocky ground.
This polymorphic, polyploid complex is treated here as one variable species. Three varieties were recognized by Davis (1948), and Willis (1973) considered specimens from the Dargo High Plains to be referable to B. diversifolia var. dissecta G.L.R. Davis. However, that taxon is specifically distinct and occurs in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland; the status of the High Plains entity is unclear. More robust plants from islands of Bass Strait, with mostly 2-pinnatisect, thicker leaves and shorter scapes than in var. diversifolia, were referred by Bentham (1869) to var. maritima Benth. Specimens from the Glennie Group, near Wilsons Promontory, approach this variety in their 2-pinnatisect leaves, but the leaf segments are narrower than in typical var. maritima.
