[4] It is naturalized in Australia, New Zealand, Oregon, California and British Columbia.

[5][6][7][8] This species is a weed of rice fields in many areas, including New South Wales and California.

It produces a wide array of small pinkish-purple three-petalled flowers that open in the morning, from June until August.

[9] The water plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica has acute leaf tips not tapering to a stalk.

[11] The flowers of A. plantago-aquatica also typically open in the afternoon, and the leaves are wider.