Emergent, erect, annual or short-lived perennial, to 1 m high, with floating and/or emergent leaves. Mature leaves with petiole to c. 30 cm long; blade lanceolate to ovate, 3.5–10 cm long, 1.5–4 cm wide, the base obtuse to cordate; veins 3–5, parallel; cross veins numerous, finer, at 90° to main veins. Inflorescence to 50 cm long; bracts not persistent. Flowers c. 6 mm diam. Sepals c. 1 mm long. Petals ovate, c. 6 mm long, white or pink. Follicles 2-seeded, 5–6 mm long, flattened, forming a ‘star-shaped’ aggregate fruit, 10–12 mm diam., eventually falling singly. Seeds c. 1.5 mm long, partly transversely ridged and tuberculate.
Home