A small, annual weed of dry range and wasteland. The petals small, light yellow fading to white. The fruit is a small erect or spreading disk with a small winged margin. This species is very similar to yellow alyssum (Alyssum alyssoides) but differs in the following characteristics: Alyssum desertorum: Fruits hairless, sepals deciduous at maturity Alyssum alyssoides: Fruits covered with star shaped hairs, sepals present at maturity.