Partially submerged aquatic with slender much branched stems, stems terete (cylindrical and tapering) to flattened, 12 to 32 inches long, arising from slender, spreading rhizomes; 2 types of leaves, submerged and floating; flowers emerging above water.
Partially submerged, stems slender, much branched; stipules free from leaf bases; submerged leaves less than 1/8 inch wide, narrow to ovate, stemmed; floating leaves broad and leathery, stemmed; flowers spikes above water, cylindric; 4 greenish tepals.
Habitat
Found in slow moving water, ponds, lakes, streams, and marshy sites.
Flower Characteristics
Cylindric spike emerging above the water on a stout stalk, 5 to 10-whorled, 3/4 to 4 inches long, with numerous perfect, greenish, stemless flowers, with 4 greenish claw-like tepals, 4 stamens, 2-chambered anthers, 4 edge-to-edge sepal-like outgrowths.
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stipules free from leaf bases; submerged leaves narrow, soft, 6 to 18 inches long, 5 to 7-veined, light green to brownish-green; floating leaves leathery, stemmed, blades ovate to elliptic, 3/4 to 3 inches long, yellow-green to dark green, 13 veins.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Stemless, greenish-brown, rounded and laterally compressed, obscurely ridged laterally and below, about 1/16 inch with erect elongated tip.