Delicate aquatic herb with elongate rhizome 1 cm. thick.. Leaves green above, reddish or brownish purple beneath, 2–5(–?12) cm. long, 1.8–4.5(–?12) cm. wide, incised cordate and slightly peltate, the lobes obtuse or acute, divergent, nearly closed or sometimes overlapping, smooth; lateral nerves 4–5 on each side, impressed, slightly raised or inconspicuous; petiole ± 20 cm. long, slender.. Flowers very sweetly scented, 3–8 cm. in diameter, held ± 5 cm. above the water; peduncle ± 30 cm. long.. Sepals 4, green, oblong-lanceolate, 1.5–3(–4) cm. long, 0.3–1 cm. wide, sometimes with dark purple spots on margins.. Petals (5–)7–14, blue, lilac-pink or rarely ± white, lanceolate, as long as the sepals, ± 6 mm. wide, acute.. Stamens typically 8–20 but often more in intermediates (? hybrids — see note); anthers 2.5 mm. long and equalling filaments (baumii type) to 10 mm. long and much exceeding filaments (heudelotii type); connective-appendages 0.5–4 mm. long, acute.. Carpels 5–10; stigma subsessile.. Fruit globose, 1–1.5 cm. diameter.. Seeds pinkish or grey, subglobose or ovoid, 1–1.2 mm. long, ± 0.8 mm. wide, clathrate with longitudinal ribs, pitted or often ± smooth or in some intermediates/hybrids the ribs with minute hairs.
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