Annual, erect, small herb; stem much branched,15-20 cm tall, stout, fleshy, glabrous; stipules membranous; leaves alternate, more or less deeply divided, lower leaves petiolate, 3-lobed, upper ones shortly stalked or sessile, simple, linear, margins cuneate or obtusely toothed segments; flowers small (less than 1 cm across), yellow, terminating the branchlets; calyx spreading, sepals 3-5, caducous, nearly equalling the oblong petals, reflexed; petals 5, deciduous, oblong, nectary gland present near the base; stamens and carpels numerous, free, styles very short, ovule 1 erect; achenes beaked, small, apiculate, many in oblong heads on very short, mucronate receptacle.