Alternative names: Not Applicable

Description:
Large water plants with perennial rhizomes and erect often 1-2 m high aerial stems; leaves concentrated towards the base of the stem, distichous, long and linear, exstipulate.

Flowers monoecious, without a perianth, arranged in dense cylindrical spikes, the upper male, the lower female; stamens 2-5, often united towards the base; ovary of 1 carpel, stalked, with 1 persistent style and a unilateral stigma; flower stalk with several long simple hairs towards the base.

Fruit a small nut with 1 pendulous albuminous seed.

Distribution:  1 cosmopolitan genus with c. 25 species including 3 species in Australia (B. G. Briggs & L. A. S. Johnson (1968) Contr. N.S.W. natn. Herb. 4:57-69; H. I. Aston (1973) Aquatic plants of Australia).

Biology: No text

Author: Prepared by J.P. Jessop