Lizard Tail

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• chameleon-plant
• houttuynia
• Chameleon Plant
• Fish mint
• Fish-plant
• Fishwort
• Fishy-smell herb
• Chameleon Flower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Polypara cordata
• Polypara cochinchinensis
• Houttuynia cordata var. plena
• Houttuynia cordata f. polypetaloidea
• Houttuynia emeiensis
• Houttuynia cordata var. variegata
• Houttuynia cordata f. viridis
• Houttuynia foetida

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Piperales and the family Saururaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Houttuynia, specifically the species Houttuynia cordata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is noted in both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the central part of the continent, the species is also found throughout Middle Europe. Specifically, it can be located within the territories of Austria and the Czech-Slovakia region. Furthermore, the geographical range extends into Germany, solidifying its foothold in Middle Europe.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Houttuynia cordata is characterized by its adaptability to varying altitudes and human-influenced environments. It thrives across a broad elevational range, beginning at a minimum of 150 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 2500 m AMSL. Regarding its preferred living conditions, the species is frequently found within an "Área Antrópica," indicating a capacity to colonize and persist in anthropogenic habitats and disturbed landscapes shaped by human activity.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

150 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Houttuynia cordata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a cryptophyte, specifically categorized as a geophyte, which means its essential regenerative organs are located underground, protected from adverse environmental conditions. This specialized life form enables the plant to survive dormancy periods by relying on its subterranean structures to re-emerge and thrive when favorable conditions return.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Houttuynia cordata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite. As a terrestrial species, it is neither an epiphyte nor an aquatic or semiaquatic plant. In terms of stature, the plant maintains a relatively low profile, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.45 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.45 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological characteristics of the foliage in Houttuynia cordata exhibit significant morphological variability, particularly regarding the dimensions of its leaves. The leaf length typically maintains a mean measurement of 7 cm, though individual specimens can vary from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 10 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width demonstrates a broad range of development, with mean widths recorded at 4.25 cm, spanning from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 6 cm. This variation in leaf surface area suggests a dynamic capacity for light interception and gas exchange regulated by the plant's environmental interactions and growth stages.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.25 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Houttuynia cordata is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and the production of minute seeds and fruits. The flowering process typically commences in May and concludes in June, although the timing can be variable. Following pollination, the plant produces small fruits with a mean length of 0.25 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.3 cm. The resulting seeds are exceptionally light and uniform in weight, maintaining a consistent mass of 4e-05 g, with no measurable variance between the minimum, mean, and maximum seed mass values.

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.25 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Seed mass mean:

4e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Houttuynia cordata has 5 reported plant parts identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem, rhizome, flower, root.

Leaf

1. Medical mycology journal
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Journal of medicinal food

Stem

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Plant direct

Rhizome

1. Polish journal of microbiology
2. Plant signaling & behavior

Flower

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Root

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Houttuynia cordata has 189 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include quercitrin, Flavonoids, quercetin, 2-Undecanone, RUTIN.

quercitrin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antiviral research
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
5. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Heliyon
4. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
5. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antiviral research
3. The American journal of Chinese medicine
4. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
5. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

2-Undecanone

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Scientific reports
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
4. Cancers
5. Scientific reports

Isoquercitrin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antiviral research
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. PeerJ
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Afzelin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Scientific reports
4. Plant signaling & behavior

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
3. Scientific reports
4. PeerJ

Decanal

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Plant signaling & behavior

Hyperin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Houttuynia cordata has 530 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antiviral, Anticancer, Antitumor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. BMC research notes
4. Scientific reports
5. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
5. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Physiologia plantarum
3. Scientific reports

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Integrative cancer therapies

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Pharmacognosy reviews

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Antiacetylcholinesterase

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Scientific reports

Medicinal Uses

Houttuynia cordata has 55 reported medicinal uses identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, dysentery, inflammation, oxidative stress, pneumonia.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations