Kickxia elatine is a weed which thrives in hot dry conditions. It is a sprawling plant with long , tangled stems. The unusual leaves are shaped like arrow heads and its tiny flowers, often overlooked, are pretty, tiny yellow and purple with a long narrow spur, each suspended on a thread-like stalk, emerging from a leaf axil. The whole plant is covered in white hairs, which protect it from hot dry conditions.

With its long string-like stems, it can become troublesome weeds of agricultural land and can be difficult to eradicate as the seeds, which usually germinate immediately, but can remain dormant in the soil for up to 20 years.

The generic name Kickxia is named after a Belgian professor of botany, Prof. Kickx.