This perennial plant, inhabit and appearance like the chamomile, has stems that lie on the ground for part of their length, before rising erect. Each bears one large flower, the disk being yellow and the rays white, tinged with purple beneath.

The leaves are smooth, alternate, and pinnate, with deeply-cut segments. The root is almost cylindrical, very slightly twisted and tapering and often crowned with a tuft of grey hai Externally it is brown and wrinkled, with bright black spots.The tincture made from the dried root may be applied to relieve the aching of a decayed tooth, applied on cotton wool, or rubbed on the gums, and for this purpose may with advantage be mixed with camphorated chloroform. It forms an addition to many dentifrices.