[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Brasenia is a perennial aquatic plant with floating, peltate leaves and rhizomatous stems.

On the first day, the functionally female, or pistillate flower, extends above the surface of the water and exposes the receptive stigmas.

[11] The anthers dehisce, releasing the pollen, and the flower is then withdrawn below the water where the fruit develops.

[14] Brasenia is cultivated as a vegetable in China (where it is known as chúncài 莼菜) and where it is used in Hangzhou in the well-known local speciality "West Lake Water Shield Soup"[15] and in Japan.

The mucilage it produces has been found to have anti-algal and anti-bacterial properties that may be useful as a natural weed control.