Submerged leaves are grass-like, but higher up the shoot it produces wide, oval floating leaves. They are dark green, leathery, opaque, with translucent longitudinal veins. They are 5 to 10 cm long, pointed at the tips, and rounded at the base.

Indicator Species - Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Still freshwater such as ponds.

It flowers from May to September.

Perennial.

Common and widespread throughout Britain.

Frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 238 of the 617 tetrads.