Annual or perennial herb to about 0.5 m or more tall. Leaves variable, to about 2 cm long, 3-veined at first, mostly elliptic to spoon-shaped, the floating leaves forming a surface rosette with the flowers in the leaf axils. Floral bracts sickle-shaped and persistent. Fruit to 2.5 mm long, more or less round, keeled and with a conspicuous wing.

N Africa, S Europe

Naturalised in all states except the NT.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Callitrichaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.