Fruit spike 1 to 4 cm.  Floating leaves, blade 2 to 6 cm x 1 to 4 cm. Both floating and submerged leaves are stalked.  Leaf-stalks typically much longer than leaf-blades. Stalk of fruit-spike does not widen towards the spike.  Fruit densely packed.

Records from this species should be confirmed by a County Recorder for botany.  It is on the VC55 Rare Plant Register, and therefore a specimen should not be taken.  Take detailed field photos and submit to NatureSpot as soon as possible; and if you think you have found it in a new location, inform the County Recorder as soon you can. (RPR)

May grow as an aquatic in shallow water in lakes, pools, the backwaters of rivers, streams and ditches, or in a dwarf, sub-terrestrial state in wet Sphagnum lawns or `brown moss` communities. It is usually restricted to acidic water, only rarely occurring in highly calcareous but nutrient-poor sites.

In flower during March, June, July and August.

Rhizomatous perennial herb.

Its strongholds in Britain are in Scotland and Wales and in south-western England.

It was recorded in 4 tetrads in the Flora of Leicestershire (Primavesi & Evans, 1988) but was not recorded in the Flora of Rutland (Messenger, 1971)

It is on the current VC55 Rare Plant Register (Hall and Woodward, 2022) as Locally Rare.  Recent records are all from Charnwood Forest