A visible aquatic plant, the colonies' multitude of shiny green leaves reach above the water's surface. The base of the petiole sheaths the stem. Flowers are purple, borne in stiff spikes, slightly shorter than the emergent leaves. Each flower is divided into an upper and lower limb, further cleft into three lobes each. Fruit and flowers produced from June through November.

Throughout except for northern Cape Breton.

Unfurled leaves are delicious chopped and added to salads. Fully expanded leaves are perfect for wrapping fish or other meats in for baking over charcoal or other fire. Seeds may be stripped from spike, uncovered and eaten raw. Slightly nutty in flavour.

Rinse well to remove invertebrates hiding amongst the leaves