Emergent plants they have ovate or elliptical leaves borne on long petioles. Submerged leaves have no petiole. Leaves are clustered, only at the base. The flowers are carried in a large diffuse panicle. Flowers are carried on long slender scapes, nude of bracts or hairs. Flowers throughout the summer.

Annapolis and Cumberland counties to Inverness

It is said that drying them first removes the acrid taste. Good source of starch.

As with most aquatic edibles, the rootstocks should be boiled and peeled to remove parasites