Berkheya coriacea, in Afrikaans the disseldoring (thistle thorn) or witdissel (white thistle), is a spreading or erect shrublet growing to heights between 30 cm and 60 cm. The stems are white and woolly, as are the new leaves. The older leaves are hairless, leathery and even shiny on top while woolly underneath. The leaves are alternate, oblanceolate in shape with sparse teeth and sharp spines along their margins.

The plant is found on limestone outcrops along the southern Cape coast between Mossel Bay and Bredasdorp. This plant was seen flowering in September. A couple of blackish dry heads from last year are just visible among the leaves, probably having already freed their seeds into the world (Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iSpot).