Saururus chinensis

Asian lizard's tail
S. chinensis, foliage and inflorescences
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Magnoliids
Order:	Piperales
Family:	Saururaceae
Genus:	Saururus
Species:	S. chinensis
Binomial name
Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill.
Synonyms [1]
Homotypic Synonyms Saururopsis chinensis(Lour.) Turcz. Saururus loureiroiDecne. Spathium chinenseLour. Heterotypic Synonyms Saururus cernuusThunb. Saururus cumingiiC.DC.

Saururus chinensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Saururaceae . ^{[1] [2]} It is sometimes referred to by the common name Asian lizard's tail, ^[3]

Description

It is an herb that grows in low, damp places to more than 1 meter high. Its leaves are green, papery, ribbed, densely glandular, and ovate to ovate-lanceolate, and (4-)10-20 × (2-)5-10 cm in size. Each flower spike resembles a lizard's tail.

Distribution

It is native to North-Central, South-Central and Southeast China, Hainan, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Qinghai, the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, and Vietnam. ^[1]

Traditional medical uses

Saururus chinensis been used to treat inflammation ^[4] in diverse conditions such as edema, gonorrhea, and asthma. ^{[5] [6]}

References

1. "Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
2. "Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
3. English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. 2015. p. 622. ISBN   978-89-97450-98-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2016– via Korea Forest Service.
4. Yoo, Hye-Jung; Kang, Hyun-Jung; Jung, Hyun-Joo; Kim, Kyunghoon; Lim, Chang-Jin; Park, Eun-Hee (November 2008). "Anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic and anti-nociceptive activities of Saururus chinensis extract". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 120 (2): 282–286. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2008.08.016. PMID   18790036.
5. Yu, Mi Hee; Gwon Im, Hyo; Lee, Ji-Won; Hwang Bo, Mi-Hyang; Kim, Hyun-Jeong; Kyung Kim, Suk; Kyo Chung, Shin; Lee, In-Seon (15 February 2008). "Effects of ethanol extract from Saururus chinensis (Bour.) Baill on lipid and antioxidant metabolisms in rats fed a high-fat diet". Natural Product Research. 22 (3): 275–283. doi:10.1080/14786410701590657. PMID   18266160. S2CID   19470351.
6. Chang, Jong Sun; Lee, Seung Woong; Kim, Myo Sun; Yun, Bo Ra; Park, Mi Hye; Lee, Seok-Geun; Park, Su-Jin; Lee, Woo Song; Rho, Mun-Chual (2011). "Manassantin A and B From Saururus chinensis Inhibit Interleukin-6–Induced Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 Activation in Hep3B Cells". Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. 115 (1): 84–88. doi: 10.1254/jphs.10239SC . PMID   21258167.

References Unsorted

• Baillon, H.E. 1871. Adansonia 10: 71.
• Missouri Botanical Garden
• Plants for a Future