The specific name of Water Starwort (heterophylla) means different leaves in reference to the spatulate floating leaves in contrast to the linear shaped submerged leaves. The most obvious part of water starwort is leaves that float on the water surface, holding the weak-stemmed plant upright. The tiny, inconspicuous flowers of water starwort indicate it is a flowering plant although some farmers refer to it as a fern or moss. The tiny yellow objects are its flowers.