[1] Umbilicus schmidtii is an unbranched erect perennial herb up to 25 cm high, glabrous in all parts.

Basal leaves orbicular, peltate, up to 6 cm in diameter, somewhat succulent, margin slightly crenate to almost entire, petioles long.

The species is fairy similar to the Mediterranean Umbilicus horizontalis and also resembles the African U. botryoides.

Umbilicus scmidtii is a western hygrophyte occurring on Santo Antão, São Nicolau,[3] Santiago and Fogo of the Cape Verde Islands.

[2] It is confined to small areas in the subhumid and humid zones, mainly between 800 m and 1600 m.[1] The lower most records are 550 m on Fogo (Monte Palha, leg.