Saururus

Scientific name

Saururus L.

Common names

lizards tail

Family

Saururaceae

Similar genera

Anemopsis, Hibiscus, Houttuynia, Sphenoclea

Native distribution

North America, China

Species cultivated

Saururus cernuus L.

S. chinensis (Lour.) Baill.

Adventive distribution

Saururus cernuus is introduced into Europe.

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

emergent, herbaceous stem plant

Brief description

Perennial, herbaceous. Leaves alternatealternate:
(adj) (of leaves) bearing one leaf per node; placed singly on the stem at different heights
, widely spaced on erect or ascending stem, petiolatepetiolate:
(adj) relating to or in the form of a petiole; bearing petioles
; stipulestipule:
(n) one or a pair of appendages that sometimes develop at the base of a leaf; may be leaf-like, scarious, or spine-like
very small; leaf bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
ovate, venationvenation:
(n) the arrangement of veins in a leaf
palmatepalmate:
(adj) (of leaves or venation) with lobes, leaflets, divisions or veins originating from the same point
; base cordatecordate:
(adj) heart-shaped; in the form of two rounded lobes
; marginmargin:
(n) edge; rim
entireentire:
(adj) having a continuous margin that is not toothed or lobed
. Inflorescenceinflorescence:
(n) the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis
a long curved spikespike:
(n) an indeterminate, unbranching inflorescence of sessile flowers or flower clusters on a usually elongated axis
of small bisexualbisexual:
(adj) having both male and female sexual reproductive structures on one individual or in one flower
or unisexualunisexual:
(adj) (of a flower) with either stamens (male) or pistils (female) but not both; consisting of only male or female flowers
flowers. Flowers short-pedicellate; sepals and petals absent; stamens 4 or 6, conspicuous. Dispersal by seed, laterallateral:
(adj) on or pertaining to the side of an organ or structure
shoots and stem fragments. Aromatic when damaged.

Natural habitat

swamps and bogs, particularly on wet ground and in littorallittoral:
(adj) of or along the shore
zone of ponds and streams

Additional comments

In China, Saururus chinensis is used for its medicinal qualities.