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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.'