B. longifolia is a member of the Nymphaeaceae and is essentially a lotus that does not grow any floating leaves. Its elongate and reddish to green undulate leaves make it look superficially similar to a Cryptocoryne when smaller, but it soon attains a size rivaling many larger Echinodorus. Red and green (with reddish leaf undersides) forms exist, with the green one attaining a slightly larger size. As with other Nymphaeaceae, restricting the roots by potting the plant can keep the plants smaller for a longer period