Lizards Tail

Saururus cernuus

Weed Description
A perennial with rhizomes that primarily occurs along the edges of ponds or in swamps and marshes. Lizards tail has distinctive heart-shaped leaves and a curved or drooping raceme with many white, inconspicuous flowers.

Leaves
Heart-shaped, arranged alternately along the stem, reaching as much as 5 inches in length. The leaves are almost waxy in appearance and dark green in color on the upper surfaces.

Stems
Erect, reaching 3 feet in height, usually hairy.

Flowers
A curved or drooping raceme that ranges from 4 to 8 inches in length and is approximately 1/2 inch in width. These racemes occur on flower stalks (peduncles) that may reach 3 inches in length. Individual flowers within the raceme are inconspicuous and white in color, with no distinctive sepals or petals.

Fruit
A capsule.

Roots
Rhizomes and a fibrous root system.

Identifying Characteristics
Emersed, aquatic perennials with rhizomes and drooping racemes that primarily occur in swamps, marshes, or around the edges of ponds. The drooping racemes of lizards tail may lead to misidentification of this weed as one of the aquatic smartweeds, such as Nodding Smartweed (Polygonum lapathifolium), however all of the smartweeds have a thin membranous sheath (ocrea) that encircles the stem unlike lizards tail.

Office of Programs

University of Missouri

Lizards Tail

Saururus cernuus