Ascending to erect annual to c. 20 cm high, typically several-branched from base, ±glabrous, but usually slightly cottony in upper axils and just below capitula. Leaves ±oblong, 4–22 mm long, 2–6 (–8) mm wide, serrate. Inflorescence of a single (very rarely twinned) sessile capitulum, commonly in branch axils. Capitula cup-shaped to broadly campanulate or broadly obconical, rarely somewhat urceolate, flat-topped or slightly depressed, 3–5 (–6.5) mm diam.; involucral bracts ovate to obovate, 2–5 mm long; receptacle slightly concave or flat. Female florets c. 40–80 (–120) in 3–5 rows; corolla 0.6–0.8 mm long. Bisexual florets (3–) 10–18 (–25); corolla c. 0.8 mm long. Fruiting heads very hard, remaining intact after stems senesce; bracts somewhat spreading to erect; fruiting receptacle 2.5–3.5 mm diam., with an underlying pith layer extending below base of involucre. Achenes linear, 2.2–3.3 mm long, obtuse or truncate at apex, finely 8–16-ribbed; ribs terminating about 2/3 from base of achene in a spongy apical process; hairs antrorse, some inrolled at apex, in 2 rings, one at base of achene and one at base of apical process.
Grows mainly on clayey soils prone to inundation (gilgais, run-ons, etc.), usually surrounded by halophytic shrublands and/or eucalypt woodlands.
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