Sparsely branched, white-woolly shrublet to 40cm. Lower foliage leaves needle-like, their margins rolled upwards and the upper leaves scale-like and pressed against the flowering stalks, the upper grading into involucral bracts through a series of brown scales; flowerheads discoid, solitary, 25-30mm across, with glossy, papery, bright yellow bracts.

Very similar to E. sesamoides but tips of upper leaves on flower stalks becoming dry and scale-like.