This wetland species is typically found in vernal pools and soggy areas of woodlands. It is occasionally cultivated in wetland gardens because of its attractive foliage and fragrant flowers. The foliage resembles the leaves of some Philodendron spp., which are cultivated indoors at houseplants. This distinctive plant is quite easy to identify; no other member of the Lizard's Tail family occurs in the eastern half of the United States. The common and scientific names refer to the nodding spikes of flowers, as 'Saurus' means lizard and 'cernuus' means nodding. Another common name for this species is 'Water Dragon.'

This native perennial plant is 1½–3' tall, branching occasionally. It is erect or semi-erect, often leaning on neighboring plants for support. The round stems are slender and become glabrous with age; young stems are often pubescent or have tufts of soft white hairs. The alternate leaves are up to 6" long and 3½" across; they are cordate, smooth or slightly wavy along the margins, and glabrous. Their upper surface is somewhat waxy; palmate veins are clearly visible on this surface. At the base of each leaf, there is a long petiole that joins the stem; it is shorter than the blade of the leaf. From the upper axils of the upper leaves, individual spikes of white flowers are produced on long stalks. Each spike is about 4-6" long and cylindrical in shape from the dense whorls of flowers; it often nods at the apex. The central axis of the spike is white while the flowers are blooming. Each flower is up to ¼" long, consisting of 6-8 white stamens and 3-4 white carpels at its center. There are neither petals nor sepals. The flowers begin to bloom at the bottom of the spike, rather than the apex. The blooming period occurs during the summer and lasts about 1 month or slightly longer. There is a pleasant floral fragrance. As the fleshy carpels begin to dry, their surfaces become wrinkled in appearance; they are joined together at the base. Each carpel contains a single seed. The root system produces abundant rhizomes, enabling vegetation reproduction. This plant often forms colonies at favorable sites.

Saururus cernuus L.:
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Canada

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Lizard's Tail is occasional to locally common in southern and central Illinois; it is largely absent from the NW portion of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include soggy openings or pools of water in floodplain woodlands, swamps, seeps and springs, and ditches in semi-shaded areas. This species is usually found in higher quality wetland habitats, although it can spread aggressively at some sites.

Some American Indians used Saururus cernuus for medicinal purposes (D. E. Moerman 1986).

Herbs , 15-120 cm, mostly pubescent when young, often glabrate, having rhizomes, often with adventitious roots. Leaves 4-25 cm; petiole 1-10 cm; blade ovate, 2-17 × 1-10 cm, base cordate, apex acuminate. Racemes nodding to erect, fragrant, narrow, 5-35 cm. Floral bracts green, boat-shaped, 1.5-3 mm (distinct portion), adnate to pedicel. Schizocarps brown, 1.5-3 mm, rugose. Seed brown, 1-1.3 × 0.7-1 mm, smooth. 2 n = 22.

Depth range based on 4 specimens in 1 taxon.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 1 - 1
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Flowering spring-summer, sometimes early fall. Wet soil, fresh or slightly brackish water to depth of 5 dm; 0-500 m; Ont., Que.; Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., Ky., La., Md., Mich., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.

Lizard's Tail is occasional to locally common in southern and central Illinois; it is largely absent from the NW portion of the state (see Distribution Map). Habitats include soggy openings or pools of water in floodplain woodlands, swamps, seeps and springs, and ditches in semi-shaded areas. This species is usually found in higher quality wetland habitats, although it can spread aggressively at some sites.

Very limited information is available. The caterpillars of Parapamea buffaloensis (Buffalo Moth) feed on this plant. The foliage is toxic and avoided by mammalian herbivores.

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

The preference is light shade to partial sun and wet mucky soil to shallow water. The foliage is rarely bothered by disease or insect pests. Too much sunlight will cause the leaves to turn yellowish green.