The Biology of Saururus cernuus L.

The lizard's tail, Saururus cernuus L., is an emergent herb of wide distribution in the United States. Small, in his Manual of the Southeastern Flora, reports that this species is common in the United States, east of the Mississippi River and that it occurs also in Texas. In the Tennessee Valley it has been noted as being one of the most conspicuous herbs in the understory of swamp forests. It also occurs in open ponds of the valley and the marginal terraces, but is not very successful in small ponds as is indicated by the restricted size of the stands. This perennial herb is tolerant to a wide range of temperatures as it thrives not only in the shallow ponded areas but also in cold spring-fed pools.