[3][4] The species epithet, foecundum, is a Latin adjective which describes the plant as "fruitful".

[5] Peplidium foecundum is a prostrate terrestrial or aquatic plant with rooting branches.

[6] Its leaves are fleshy,[2][6] and up to 3 cm long on short (c. 0.5 mm) petioles.

[6] The flowers are small and solitary, growing on short shoots in the leaf axils,[6] as racemes.

[6] It is found in and beside ephemeral pools, in swamps,[2] on and in the margins of claypans[6] and swales.