Habit: Aquatics growing in or on water, Aquatic emergent, Aquatic fresh water, Herbaceous, Perennials

Roots: Rhizomes, Sap clear

Stems: contracted, rounded, solid, aerenchyma

Leaves: Leaves - sheathing at base, Leaves - sheath open, Leaves - simple, Leaves - alternate, Leaves - 2-ranked (distichous), Leaves - linear or filiform (grass-like), Leaves - venetion parallel, Leaves - soft, Leaves - margins entire

Inflorescence: terminal, scapose, umbels, bracts brown membraneous, Flowers pedicellate

Flowers: Flowers bisexual, Perianth present, Flowers large and showy, Flowers 3 merous, Flowers actinomorphic, Floral bracteoles present

Sepals/Tepals: Tepals 6 (Sepals indistinguishable from petals), Sepals colored (not green)

Petals/Tepals: Petals 6, Petals mostly separate, Petals white (to pinkish)

Stamens: Stamens 9

Pistil: Carpels separate (apocarpous), Carpels partially united, Carpels 6, Ovary superior, Styles 1, Stigma terminal capitate or trilobed, Placentation laminar

Fruit: Fruit - follicle

Seeds: Seeds - numerous per locule, Seeds - lacking tuft of hair, Seeds - surface rough or ribbed, Seeds - round or ellipsoid