Aquatic, submerged, annual herb with perennial, fibrous root stock; leaves dimorphic, floating leaves much large, broadly ovate-suborbicular, acute or acuminate at apex, cordate-truncate at base, undulate, 7-11 nerved; submerged leaves usually linear-lanceolate; flowers solitary, sessile within a tubular 2-fid spathe, 3-4 cm long, with 5-6 fimbriate wings; peduncles varying in length with the depth of water and keep the flowers on the water surface; sepals-3, linear-oblong; petals 3, white with yellow base, ovate-orbicular with fleshy appendage at the base, 2-4 cm long; stamens 6-15 in 2-5 series, anthers oblong, erect; ovary oblong, beaked, ovules many, styles 6, linear, 2 fid; fruits 4-8 cm, oblong or ellipsoid, 6 valved, enclosed in a spathe; seeds many, oblong, minute.