The pleated leaves and flower of Empodium flexile emerge annually after rain. Note the long thin flower tube, appearing like a stem. There is also a top-shaped green fruit, one-chambered and angled just above the ground.

The leaves may become 20 cm long. They are enveloped with the flower at the base within a whitish translucent sheath, sometimes visible (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; iSpot).