Butomaceae

Plants of shallow water and marshes. Emergent aquatic, non-woody (herbaceous) perennials without hairs, from a stout fleshy creeping edible rhizome.

Leaves all basal, linear, upright or floating, roughly triangular in cross section, with parallel veins; leaves widest toward base and sheathing.

Flowers numerous in a cyme-like umbel supported by 3 bracts at the top of an erect stalk arising from leaf axils. Individual flowers in the axils of bracts, radially symmetrical, producing both pollen and seeds. Flower parts in multiples of 3; sepals and petals each 3, similar in size, petals pink, sepals more greenish. Stamens 9, in 3 sets. Carpels 6, fused at very base but remaining separate above; ovary located above point of attachment of all other flower parts (superior). Fruit a whorl of capsules with long beaks.

Native to Eurasia.