A perennial herb or subshrub, floating or prostrate near water's edge; stems to 1.5 m long, becoming detached from the primary root system and in water developing copious white spongy aerenchyma under the epidermis. Leaves alternate; bipinnate, pinnae to 4 per leaf; leaflets to 20 pairs per pinnae, to 18 mm long and 3.5 mm broad, oblong, obtuse to broadly acute. Flowers to 50 per capitate spike, sessile, green; calyx to 3 mm, entire; corolla to 4 mm; staminodes 10, petal-like, to 16 mm long and 1 mm wide, yellow, anthers to 1 mm long, lacking terminal gland.

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

The root is used as an external remedy for necrosis of the bones of the nose and hard palate, and in the advanced stage of syphilis. The juice of the stem is squeezed into the ear to cure earache.