Brasenia is a perennial aquatic plant with floating peltate leaves and rhizomatous stems. It is identified by its bright green leaves small purple flowers that bloom from summer through fall and a thick mucilage that covers all of the underwater organs including the underside of the leaves stems and developing buds. On the first day the functionally female or pistillate flower extends above the surface of the water and exposes the receptive stigmas. The flower then recedes below the water surface and on the following day emerges as a functionally male or staminate flower. It is elevated higher than on the previous day and the anther-bearing filaments are extended beyond the female carpels. The anthers dehisce releasing the pollen and the flower is then withdrawn below the water where the fruit develops. Brasenia is a genus consisting of one species. It is widely distributed in North America the West Indies northern South America eastern Asia Australia the Indian Subcontinent and parts of Africa.