It is becoming increasingly prevalent as a marginal plant around pond and lake edges throughout Mississippi. It is characterized by lance-shaped to oblong leaves, with short, stiff spines located at the base of leaves where they join the main stem. Leaf arrangement is usually alternate. The spines are painful, which make this a particularly undesirable plant around ponds where there is fishing or other shoreline activities. The stem is thick, crooked, and bright green, with numerous hairs.
Flowers are a distinctive bright blue, with five petals.
Spray until leaves are wet. Add surfactant, and spray until leaves are wet. It grows into small colonies from underground runners and typically reaches 1 to 2 feet in height. After maturity, the flowers become a string of dry nutlets that resemble a lizard's tail. The leaves are medium sized, about 1 inch wide, and 3 to 4 inches long.