A species of annual aquatic plants from the genus Zizania (Zizania) of the Cereal family (Poaceae). An annual plant up to 2 m tall, without rhizomes.
The stems are erect up to 1 cm thick, their nodes are short-haired. Leaf blades 0.5-1.5 cm wide, light green. The lower flower scales of the pistillate flowers are 1.2-2.3 cm long, at the tip with awns 4-7 cm long. Blooms in late summer and early autumn.
The fruit is a grain, initially green, 1-2 cm long, almost threadlike, as it dries, it turns black.