Perennial subshrub, 0.15-1 m tall, occasionally decumbent and rooting at nodes. Leaves pinnatipartite to bipinnatipartite, glabrous or pubescent. Flowerheads radiate, large, solitary on long peduncles; outer involucral bracts with membranous, triangular, acuminate apices, lacerated, inner bracts with ovate or rounded silvery appendages; ray florets yellow or occasionally white or red with dark reverse; disc florets yellow or with purple tips, paleae with prominent scale-like appendages.
Like U. cakilefolia but ± woody below. Flower heads yellow or rays sometimes white or red with dark reverse, paleae shorter than disc florets.