Perennial herb to 1-2 m tall without stolons. Leaves mostly 20-40 cm long, lanceolate with long petioles. Flowers 3-5 cm wide, white, in 5-13 whorls; summer. Stamens 12-30.

S. latifolia Willd.,Wapato (Duck Potato), from the USA has large tubers and variable leaves 10-30 cm long.

S. natans Pall. from the USA has mostly floating leaves, wedge-like to rounded at the base or cordate with 2 short lobes. Plants known in the aquarium trade under this name may be S. subulata (L.) Buchenau with subulate filaments.

S. latifolia has petals without a basal spot and S. sagittifolia with a spot.

Tropical and subtropical America.

Source: Spencer, R. (2005). Alismataceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.