Hydrostachys polymorpha Klotzsch

polymorpha: of many forms

Aquatic perennial herb. Leaves more or less submerged, tufted, fern-like, up to 70 cm long, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate in outline, 2-3-pinnate; primary pinnae in 25-70 pairs, each densely divided again into small scale-like, simple or filiform-branched pinnules; petiole and rhachis flattened, covered with numerous small, ovate, scale-like appendages. Inflorescences erect, emergent spikes up to 30 cm long, unisexual, browinish. Flowers minute. Fruit ellipic, hairless, up to c. 2.5 × 1 mm.

Locally common.

Angola, Namibia, DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.