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Plant
Identification
Lizard's Tail
 Description Management
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Saururus
cernuus
Lizard's tail is a perennial
plant that has a hairy erect stem with few or no branches and
can grow up to 4 feet tall. Leaves are on short petiole, lace
to heart-shaped 2 to 5 inches long by 1 to 3 inches wide), alternate
with veins that converge toward the base. Flowers are borne on
a long hairy stem, opposite the uppermost leaf. The flowering
structure consists of a spike of many small whitish flowers that
forms an arching, tail-like shape. As the greenish seeds develop,
the "tail" takes on a wrinkled appearance and hence the common
name. Lizard's tail has a distinctive orange like-smell. Lizard's
tail forms colonies from spreading rhizomes.
Submerged portions of
all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro
invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by
fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks,
etc.). After aqauatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria
and fungi provides food (called "detritus") for many aquatic invertebrates. Lizard's tail has no known direct food value to wildlife.
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" indicates Non-Native plants.