It grows as an erect herb up to a metre in height, with yellow flowers.

[1][2] The name Senecio pinnatifolius was first published by Achille Richard in 1834, but it was not immediately taken up.

In 1969, the Australian members of S. lautus were recognised as a distinct species, and the name S. pinnatifolius was reinstated.

A number of subspecies and varieties have been published, but these have long been recognised as not accurately reflecting variation within the species.

In 2004 a thorough study of the species found ten variants, but did not publish names for them because further nomenclatural work was required for this.