Perennial monoecious aquatic herb. Stems 0.1–1.5 m long. Leaves in whorls of 3 or 4; submerged leaves orbicular, pectinate, with 14–20 pinnae, lamina 6–12 mm long; emergent leaves lanceolate to ovate, glaucous green to reddish purple, lower ones pinnately lobed or dissected, upper ones entire, lamina 3–9 mm long. Bracteoles lanceolate to oblanceolate or ovate, 0.8–0.9 mm long, entire or 2-or 3-toothed, straw-coloured. Flowers occasionally transitionally bisexual, sessile, solitary. Male flowers: sepals deltoid, 0.3–0.4 mm long, yellowish; petals 1.7–2.5 mm long, caducous, yellow; stamens 8. Female flowers: sepals deltoid, minute; petals vestigial; ovary 4-locular; styles clavate; stigmas white. Fruit cubiform, straw-coloured, red or deep grey; mericarps shortly cylindrical, 0.9–1.1 mm long, with irregular dorsal ridges and 2 lateral ridges, irregularly verrucose.
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