Small, densely tufted perennial herb to 16 cm high. Stems slender, erect, silky. Leaves filiform to linear, 1–2.5 cm long, silky, becoming glabrous with age. Capitula small, solitary or in a compact orbicular cyme. Involucre usually hemispherical; outer bracts yellow or reddish brown; intermediate bracts ciliate near base. Female florets with 5 or 6 pappus bristles; bristles very shortly plumose near apex.
OtP, DunT. Also SA. Recorded from Little River and Glenisla in south-western Victoria.
Poorly distinguished from Chrysocephalum apiculatum subsp. filifolium, largely distinguished by the female florets having more numerous pappus bristles. These two taxa may prove to be better treated as a single entity given the difficulties interpreting this character.