Submerged delicate annual, with thread-like roots. Leaves narrow-linear, flat, usually straight, extremely fine, 2–3 cm long. Male and female inflorescences on separate plants, sometimes upper female, lower male. Male flowers in spathes, with 3–5 together in axil of each of 2 adjacent leaves, the spathes c. 2.5 mm long. Female flowers in spathe which is at first sessile then carried to water surface by elongation of peduncle, the flower expanding at water surface; perianth segments 3, spreading, each c. 0.5 mm long, reddish purple; stigmas 3, deeply bifid, spreading. Fruit cylindric, c. 4–6 mm long.
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