This species is not native to India but was brought to the country during the period of British colonial rule as an ornamental aquatic plant originating from South America. The plant has become a noxious weed of Indian fresh water resources and known as “terror of Bengal”.

A free floating aquatic herb. Leaves are broad thick, ovate, with bulbous spongy stalks which gives buoyancy to plant. Flowers are attractive, lavender to pink, out of six one petal have yellow spot with bluish spreading colour rays.