Description
Water Star-grass is a submerged or partially floating, herbaceous perennial with long, flaccid stems that root at the nodes. The alternate, linear leaves are 7-15 cm long and have membranous wings at the base that clasp the stem. The solitary flowers are borne on stalks that elongate out of a tubular sheath, or spathe, that is borne in the upper leaf axils. Each small, yellow flower has 3 each of narrow, undifferentiated petals and sepals that are ca. 5 mm long and a long, slender basal tube that is 2-4 cm long and that appears to be a continuation of the stalk. Flowers float on the surface of the water. The fruit is a many-seeded capsule.