Fresh water perennial with tuberous roots. Leaves blunt-tipped, oval, floating on long stems rooted in the mud. Flowers are in 2 rows, each white flower bearing only one tepal; sweetly scented; fruiting spikes are used to make the flavoursome stew called  'Waterblommetjie bredie'.

Greek: dis = twice, double; stachys = ear of corn, spike; referring to the flowers arranged in rows of two.