Sparganium

Rhizomatous, perennial emergent herb, rooting in substrate, monoecious. Stem unbranched or with a few branches, ± erect, occasionally floating. Leaves basal and cauline, emergent, alternate and distichous, linear, erect or floating, sheathing at base. Inflorescence terminal, flexuose, unbranched or with a few branches, with unisexual flowers arranged in several globular heads; female heads subtended by a primary leaf-like bract, reduced or absent; male heads distal to female heads, not subtended by bract. Perianth parts 1–6, papery, ± oblong to irregular in shape, shorter than fruit and stamens. Female flowers with ovary superior, 1- or 2-locular; ovule 1 per loculus, anatropous, pendulous; style unbranched or once divided, persistent in fruit; stigma on one side of style apex. Male flowers 8–15 mm wide, with 1–8 stamens; filaments free or partly united; anthers basiflxed, oblong. Infructescence forming a hard burr-like cluster of drupe-like indehiscent fruits.