Stems simple or branched, slightly compressed without globose glands at the nodes. Submersed leaves linear, rigid, 2–7 cm × 0.5–2 mm; stipules 8–20 mm long, sheathing but fraying with age. Floating leaves absent. Spikes 8–15 mm long with separate whorls of flowers. Tepals green, 1–2 mm long. Fruits 2–3 mm long, barely keeled with a beak ca. 0.5 mm long (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).