2. Saururus Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 341. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 159, 1754.
Lizard's-tail [Greek sauros, lizard, and oura, tail]
Stems simple or branched, nodes more than 2. Leaves cauline. Inflorescences opposite leaves and/or terminal, racemes, lax, spikelike, not subtended by petaloid bracts. Flowers 175-350, not coalescent; stamens (3-)6(-8), hypogynous or epigynous; pistil 1, (3-)4-5(-7)-carpellate, connate only at base; placentation marginal; ovules 2 per placenta (only 1 developing into seed). Fruits schizocarps; mericarps dry, indehiscent. Seed 1 per mericarp. x = 11.
Species 2 (1 in the flora): e North America, e Asia.
SELECTED REFERENCES
Baldwin, J. T. and B. M. Speese. 1949. Cytogeography of Saururus cernuus. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 76: 213-216. Hall, T. F. 1940. The biology of Saururus cernuus L. Amer. Midl. Naturalist 24: 253-260. Holm, T. 1926. Saururus cernuus L. A morphological study. Amer. J. Sci., ser. 5, 12: 162-168. Johnson, D. S. 1900. On the development of Saururus cernuus L. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 27: 365-372. Tucker, S. C. 1975. Floral development in Saururus cernuus (Saururaceae). 1. Floral initiation and stamen development. Amer. J. Bot. 62: 993-1007. Tucker, S. C. 1976. Floral development in Saururus cernuus (Saururaceae). 2. Carpel initiation and floral vasculature. Amer. J. Bot. 63: 289-301. Tucker, S. C. 1979. Ontogeny of the inflorescence of Saururus cernuus (Saururaceae). Amer. J. Bot. 66: 227-236.
