Asian Lizard's Tail

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Asian Lizard's Tail
• Chinese Lizard's Tail
• Lizard's tail

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Saururus cumingii
• Saururopsis chinensis
• Spathium chinense

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Piperales. Ultimately, it is a member of the family Saururaceae, specifically categorized under the genus Saururus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across various regions of China. It can be found throughout the South-Central areas of the country. Additionally, its presence extends to the tropical island of Hainan. The species also populates the North-Central territories of China. Finally, its range reaches into the Southeast regions of the nation.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Saururus chinensis is characterized by its classification as a geophyte, a life form that allows it to persist through unfavorable seasons by utilizing underground storage organs. As a perennial herb typically found in wetland habitats, it functions through a life cycle that balances seasonal growth with long-term survival in moist, shaded environments. During the growing season, the plant emerges from its rhizomatous structures to develop lush, green foliage and distinctive white, spike-like inflorescences. Because it behaves as a geophyte, the plant can withstand periods of environmental stress or dormancy by retreating to its subterranean parts, ensuring its continuity in fluctuating aquatic or semi-aquatic ecosystems. This strategy of storing nutrients and energy underground facilitates its ability to re-emerge annually, driving its reproductive efforts and spreading through both seed dispersal and vegetative expansion via its creeping rhizomes.

Life form :

geophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Saururus chinensis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This plant is a self-supporting, terrestrial species that does not function as a climber or an epiphyte. It grows as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, it typically reaches an average plant height of approximately 1 meter.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Saururus chinensis is characterized by its distinct foliar morphology, which plays a crucial role in its photosynthetic efficiency and resource acquisition. The plant exhibits significant variability in its leaf dimensions, with leaf lengths typically ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a mean of 15 cm, reaching a maximum of 20 cm. Complementing this longitudinal growth, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 5 cm and a maximum of 10 cm, maintaining an average width of approximately 7.5 cm. This structural configuration of the foliage suggests an adaptive strategy for maximizing light interception within its specific ecological niche, where the varying surface area of the leaves facilitates efficient gas exchange and metabolic processes essential for the plant's overall vigor and medicinal potency.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Saururus chinensis is characterized by its distinct flowering structures, which consist of elongated, spike-like inflorescences emerging from the plant. These inflorescences exhibit a specific size range, typically measuring between a minimum of 0.12 m and a maximum of 0.2 m in length. The small, white flowers are densely arranged along these slender spikes, facilitating pollination through various biotic agents. Following successful fertilization, the plant transitions from its flowering stage to seed production, ensuring the dispersal and continuation of the species within its natural habitat.

Inflorescence length max:

0.2 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.12 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Saururus chinensis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Chemicals

Saururus chinensis has 32 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Machilin D, RUTIN, saucerneol D, sauchinone, 3,4,5-trimethoxy-phenylacrylaldehyde.

Machilin D

1. Journal of natural products
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

RUTIN

1. Talanta
2. The Analyst

saucerneol D

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

sauchinone

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

3,4,5-trimethoxy-phenylacrylaldehyde

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

3-(2-nitroethyl)-1-methoxyindole

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

4'-hydroxyl-3,3',4,5,5'-pentamethoxy-7,7'-epoxylignan

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Anthraquinones

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

DPPH

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Elemicin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Activities

Saururus chinensis has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatoprotective.

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Saururus chinensis has 15 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include edema, jaundice, fever, Alzheimer's disease, beriberi.

Edema

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Jaundice

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Fever

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Alzheimer's disease

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Beriberi

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Breast cancer

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Cancers

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hypertension

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Inflammatory bowel disease

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Osteoarthritis

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Saururus chinensis has 8 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 95% ethanol extracts, EtOAc extract, ethanol extract, methylene chloride fraction, n-hexane fraction.

95% ethanol extracts

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Etoac extract

1. Journal of natural products

Ethanol extract

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Methylene chloride fraction

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

N-hexane fraction

1. Journal of natural products

Root

1. Journal of natural products

Total methanol extract

1. Journal of natural products

Underground parts

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin