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''Saururus cernuus'' (lizard's tail, water-dragon, dragon's tail, swamp root) is a medicinal and
ornamental plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that i ...
native to eastern
North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
. It grows in wet areas or shallow water, and can be up to about a meter tall. The native range covers much of the eastern United States, as far west as eastern
Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
and
Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...
, south to
Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
, and north to
Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
and
New York state New York, officially the State of New York, is a state in the Northeastern United States. It is often called New York State to distinguish it from its largest city, New York City. With a total area of , New York is the 27th-largest U.S. stat ...
. ''Saururus cernuus'' also occurs in
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
Canada. It is an obligate wetland plant and able to grow in saturated soils. ''Saururus cernuus'' is a herbaceous perennial that gets its most frequent common name, lizard's tail, from its white flowers that bloom in the summer months. The inflorescence is usually 6 to 8 in long. After floral maturity the white flowers turn brown, giving the plant its namesake, lizard's tail. The leaves are usually heart-shaped, arrow-shaped, or lance-shaped, and are arranged alternately on the stem. When the leaves are crushed they release a citrus or sassafras aroma. As an aquatic plant, ''S. cernuus'' is an important food source for many wetland animals, including beavers. In an exclusion study beavers reduced the prevalence of ''S. cernuus'' by 45%. Its medicinal properties have been used to treat swelling in the body.
Cherokee The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...
and
Chocktaw The Choctaw (in the Choctaw language, Chahta) are a Native American people originally based in the Southeastern Woodlands, in what is now Alabama and Mississippi. Their Choctaw language is a Western Muskogean language. Today, Choctaw people are ...
native Americans mashed up ''S. cernuus'' roots as a poultice, and applied the plant to soothe inflammation of the breasts and back. The Seminoles used the plant as an
antirheumatic Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) comprise a category of otherwise unrelated disease-modifying drugs defined by their use in rheumatoid arthritis to slow down disease progression. The term is often used in contrast to nonsteroidal ...
, as well as a way to soothe fevers and body aches.


Description

''Saururus cernuus'' is a wetland plant that commonly grows to 2 to 3 ft in height. It is herbaceous and can be distinctively identified during the flowering season. Flowering occurs during the summer months, May to early August, blossoming with small white flowers composing a spike inflorescence 3-6 in long. Flowers are simple, and have 6 or fewer stamens and 3 or fewer carpels. Due to formation of dense rhizomes, lizard's tail can be very competitive for below-ground resources. Leaves are heart-shaped (cordate) and alternate along the stem of the plant. Synonyms include ''Saururus cernuus'' f. ''submersus'' Glück.


Distribution and habitat

''Saururus cernuus'' L. is distributed throughout Southeastern United States, normally within marshes, along the edges of streams or lakes. The Range includes the mid-Atlantic states to Florida. Lizards tails are found in freshwater wetlands, normally submerged in shallow water. ''Saururus cernuus'' can thrive in saturated soil, and can also tolerate shading by larger trees. Rhizomes are abundantly present within this species, reaching lengths up to 3 meters. Their rhizomes spread laterally below the soil. These rhizomes are characterized with a linear series of nodes that follow along the tip of the rhizomes. Seeds are dispersed in autumn, and are light green, then turn brown.


Uses

''Saururus cernuus'' have been used to restore and create wetlands. Native plant nurseries sell rhizomes for wetland restoration. Native Americans and early settlers used lizards tail for their medicinal properties. Lizard's tail rhizomes were ground and used as a sedative, to treat swelling and inflammation, and to lower fevers.Sturtevant, William, 1954, The Mikasuki Seminole: Medical Beliefs and Practices, Yale University, PhD Thesis, page 204


Conservation status

Lizards tail are abundantly present throughout the United States. In fact, this plant can potentially outcompete other species of plants ''Saururus cernuus'' form lengthy rhizomes that can out compete within their herbaceous layer.


Etymology

The genus name ''Saururus'' is from the greek word, sauros meaning "lizard" and oura meaning "tail". The species name "cernuus" is Latin and refers to the plant's drooping and distinctive inflorescence.


Interactions with beetles

Studies show a possible connection with longhorn beetles and ''S. cernuus.'' Mating of three different species of longhorn beetles have been observed in association with ''S. cernuus'': '' Strangalia luteicornis'', '' Typocerus lugubris'', and '' Typocerus velutinus velutinus''. Moreover, 29 other species of beetles have been observed on ''S. cernuus''. Flowers and fruits of ''S. cernuus'' are a likely food source for many beetles.


Interactions with beavers

Herbivores such as the North American beaver (''
Castor canadensis The North American beaver (''Castor canadensis'') is one of two extant beaver species, along with the Eurasian beaver (''Castor fiber''). It is native to North America and introduced in South America (Patagonia) and Europe (primarily Finland and ...
'') have had a strong impact on aquatic plants. Beavers often chose this lizard's tail plant rather than other plants that may thrive within the area. Studies show that in areas where beavers are present, lizard's tail are less likely to be observed.


References


External links


''Saururus cernuus''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q162365 Saururaceae Flora of Eastern North America Medicinal plants Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus