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Lizard’s Tail

Saururus cernuus

Lizard's Tail Locations in North America
Lizard's Tail Locations in Southeast US

lizard's tail drawing
close up lizard's tail

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration courtesy of University of Florida/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. Used with permission.

What is Lizard’s Tail?

Physical Characteristics

  • Grows up to about 3 feet tall

Leaves:

  • Heart-shaped
  • Up to 5.91 inches long
  • Leaf stalk as long as the blades

Flowers:

  • White in color
  • Crowded

Spike:

  • Up to 1 foot long and 0.59 inches in diameter
  • Covered with short, soft hair

Fruit:

  • Somewhat fleshy and wrinkled

Stem:

  • Naked on bottom
  • Leafy on top
  • Simple or branching

Where Does it Grow?

Lizard’s tail can be found in the water or muddy soil of lakes, swamps, and streams. It is shade tolerant and exists as a common understory plant in hardwood bottomlands and cypress-tupelo gum swamps.

Pros and Cons of Lizard’s Tail

Lizard’s tail has no known direct food value to wildlife. 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 aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called “detritus”) for many aquatic invertebrates.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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