A diminutive annual of arid range and wasteland. The petals small, light yellow fading to white. The fruit is a small erect or spreading disk with a narrow wing-like margin. It is very similar to dwarf alyssum (Alyssum desertorum) but differs in the following characteristics: Alyssum desertorum: Fruit hairless, sepals deciduous at maturity. Alyssum alyssoides: Fruit covered with closely appressed star shaped hairs, sepals present at maturity.