Annual or perennial. Vegetative stem elongate, floating or on mudflats; flowering stem to 12 cm long, the lower internode usually repent. Sessile leaves not seen; petiolate leaves floating or emersed, the blade narrowly elliptic to elliptic, acuminate to acute at apex, attenuate to cuneate at base, 1.5-4 cm long, 0.7-2.8 cm wide; petiole glabrous, to 13 cm long. Stipules 2-6 cm long. Inflorescence with 2-3 flowers; peduncle glabrous, less than 1 cm long; spathe 1.4-3 cm long. Flowers pilose near base, tube 5-11 mm long, lobes blue, 7-14 mm long; stamens 1.5-4 mm long, attached at two distinct positions, the anthers ovoid to oblong, 0.5-0.8 mm long; ovary 2-3 mm long; homostylous. Nutlet 13-16 mm long, including apical attenuate spine.